Written Answers of 1 April 1993

DEFENCE

  Royal Navy Personnel
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reach further conclusions about personnel numbers in the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As foreshadowed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes) on 10 December 1992,Official Report, column 800, I can now confirm that, in the light of the overall reductions required in the Royal Navy, a third phase of Royal Navy redundancies will be necessary in 1994. The maximum overall number is likely to be of the order of 2,300, but further work is needed to determine precise numbers. Detailed terms will be promulgated within the Navy in the summer. We will be encouraging the maximum number of volunteers although some compulsory measures may be needed in order to achieve the proper balance of manpower within the Royal Navy.

  Helicopter Carrier
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) of 29 March,Official Report, column 16, on what criteria tenders for the amphibious helicopter carrier will be evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  We will hold a full and fair competition for the contract, using our normal technical and value-for-money criteria. We expect to be in a position to award a contract for the amphibious helicopter carrier later this year.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) of 29 March,Official Report, column 16, what decision has been taken on the award of a contract to build the amphibious helicopter carrier; and on what grounds that decision was taken.

  Mr. Aitken
  No decision has yet been taken on the choice of contractor to build the amphibious helicopter carrier. We expect to be in a position to award the contract later this year, after a full and fair competition using our normal technical and value-for-money criteria.

  Married Quarters
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long married personnel will be allowed to remain in married quarters in(a) overseas postings and (b) the United Kingdom following the termination of their service with the armed services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All married service personnel in the United Kingdom and overseas are required to vacate 322
  their quarters on the day of their discharge. They are, however, given six months advance warning to vacate their quarter as part of the resettlement procedure. Married service personnel overseas are given the opportunity to move to a quarter in the United Kingdom for the last six months of their service to enable them to 1234look for alternative accommodation. The Ministry of Defence is sympathetic to the needs of ex-service families who face homelessness; in these circumstances ex-service personnel may be allowed to remain in their quarter until they have found alternative accommodation, as long as there are no pressing service requirements for the property.

  EUCLID
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on EUCLID; what is the breakdown of the expenditure; what evaluation of the quality need and effectiveness of these programmes is undertaken; and by whom.

  Mr. Aitken
  To date, about £160,000 has been spent extramurally on two contracts on interconnection and assembly of microelectronics and solid state laser sources. The quality, need and effectiveness of these programmes are evaluated by the defence staff in consultation with their scientific advisers.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The potential scope of the initiative will vary between departments. My Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993. I also refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 362.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made for the staff in his Department to carry out routine exercises to evaluate their guidelines for dealing with an accident involving the transportation of nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Regular exercises of varying scale are sponsored by the Ministry of Defence to enable departmental and other staffs to practise the response to a nuclear transport accident.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for contacting local authorities when nuclear weapons convoys travel through their area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Local civil police forces are always notified at least 24 hours in advance of nuclear
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  weapon convoy movements through their area of responsibility. It is the accepted practice nationally that the civil police will co-ordinate the response of the other emergency services to all serious incidents and they would fulfil this same role in the event of an accident involving a nuclear weapon convoy.

  Aldermaston
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies submitted bids to take over the running of the Aldermaston nuclear weapons plant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Three companies submitted bids for the contract to operate the atomic weapons establishment, which includes the Aldermaston site.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure was followed in appointing a company to take over the running of the Aldermaston nuclear weapons plant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Comprehensive competitive tendering procedures were followed in selecting the contractor to operate the atomic weapons establishment, which includes the Aldermaston site.

  Surplus Weapons
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sale of surplus weapons.

  Mr. Aitken
  As the Comptroller and Auditor General noted in the recent National Audit Office report on disposal by sale of defence surplus equipment and stores—HC 557—my Department has made good progress in establishing a unified organisation for disposal by sale. We are pursuing joint venture schemes with industry, aimed at tackling the exceptional disposal activity necessary in the next few years, which is on a scale unprecedented since the end of the second world war.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Aitken
  MOD recruitment into the fast stream is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency—RAS—on behalf of the Civil Service Commissioners. RAS has put in place a range of measures to aid the recruitment of minority groups. The principle of fair and open competition continues to apply, including the commitment to equal opportunities. The Department is considering with the Windsor Fellowship the possibility of sponsoring students of ethnic minority origin at the pre-recruitment stage for fast-stream entry. Consistent with departmental action programmes for women, ethnic minorities and those with disabilities, we have indicated to RAS our willingness to take fast-stream entrants from minority groups, and new recruits from all three groups have joined the Department in recent years.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last conducted surveys of(a) ethnic
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  origins and (b) the number of women among its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  Ethnic monitoring of all civilian staff was introduced in 1988 as an important element of our equal opportunities policies. A further survey of all staff who did not reply to the initial survey was conducted in March 1991 and resulted in an improved response rate. Ethnic monitoring is a continuous process in the MOD, and all new entrants, except casual staff, are surveyed on joining. The information to establish the number of women employed in the Department is readily available from employment records; surveys to establish gender are therefore unnecessary.

  Global Positioning System
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from his United States counterpart on the Pentagon's new global positioning system; and what are the implications for British defence plans of the deployment of the GPS by the United States of America.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Our forces have already made use of the global positioning system, and our use of this navigation aid is planned to increase as GPS receivers are fitted to a wider range of equipment. Under arrangements we have with the United States, there is regular consultation between officials about the system.

  Ammunition Manufacture
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made in the five-year supply tenders for ammunition manufacture announced in February.

  Mr. Aitken
  Tenders have been issued and are due for return at the end of April.

  Exercise Team Spirit
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the security implications for the Korean peninsula of the Team Spirit military exercise.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have received a small number of inquiries about Exercise Team Spirit.

  Trident
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made in testing the sonar system for the new Trident submarines.

  Mr. Aitken
  The sonar system was tested and cleared for the support of Vanguard's contractor's sea trials, and met Vanguard's requirements adequately. The system will undergo further comprehensive testing following Vanguard's acceptance into the Royal Navy later this year.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the management consultants employed by his Department in the last five years, indicating in each case the cost of the contract.
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  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost and effort.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which professional services within his Department have been subjected to market testing within the last 12 months and with what result; and which will be subjected to market testing within the next 12 months.

  Mr. Aitken
  Functions involving professional staff that have been market tested in the past 12 months include:

  elementary flying training;

  helicopter maintenance and engineering support;

  works service management at various locations;

  engineering and supply services at RAF Scampton;

  management and operation of AWE Aldermaston; and

  aircraft support services at A&AEE Boscombe Down.

  All except Boscombe Down resulted in the work being contractorised.

  In the next 12 months we expect to market test:

  Spearfish torpedo in-service support;

  information technology services;

  armoured vehicle repair and refitting;

  graphics and photography.

  Bounties and Bonuses
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the principle that governs the payment of bonuses or bounties to members of the security forces; from what fund bounties or bonuses are paid to the security forces; and who determines the circumstances in which bonuses are paid to members of the security forces;

  (2) how many bonuses have been paid to troops in the Province for reported sightings of (a) republican terrorist suspects and (b) loyalist terrorist suspects.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The only bounties or bonuses payable from public funds to soldiers in Northern Ireland are those relating to such matters as completion of periods of service or, in the case of the Royal Irish Regiment, home service part time, completion of annual attendance and training requirements. The authority for such payments is contained in the pay warrant and supporting regulations.

  No payments have been made from public funds to soldiers in Northern Ireland for sightings of suspected terrorists. Local initiatives to make such incentive payments from non-public funds during the first quarter of 1993 have been terminated. There was only one award for a reported sighting, of a suspected "loyalist" terrorist.

  Faslane (Security)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up an inquiry into the disclosure of detailed plans of the Clyde submarine base at Faslane to the Glasgow Evening Times; if he will review his policy of employing private security firms to protect top security installations like Faslane; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 29 March 1993]: The plans that have come into the hands of the Glasgow Evening Times are not classified and do not relate to any sensitive parts of the Clyde submarine base. Commercial security companies are not used to guard MOD operational or other sensitive installations. There is no reason to review this policy.
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  Housing
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will revise the upper price limit which the Housing Corporation has set on qualifying properties for the do-it-yourself shared ownership scheme.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 31 March 1993]: It is the responsibility of the Housing Corporation, with the approval of the Department of the Environment, to set qualifying limits for DIYSO properties. I understand that new DIYSO value limits have been agreed, and will be introduced from 1 April 1993. Qualifying limits vary according to the type of house and area. These limits will enable the DIYSO programme to expand by making it available to first-time buyers who require family housing.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Curry
  We have carried out a wide-ranging exercise to inform senior budget holders within the Department of the initiative and to determine the potential for the expansion of the use of private finance in the department's programmes. As the Department's capital programmes are modest, scope for the involvement of private finance is limited. We are, however, continuing to keep this initiative under regular review.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number, by animal type, of live animals transported overseas for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Curry
  Details, by type, of the number of live animals exported can be found for the years 1988 to 1991 in the annual volumes of the "Overseas Trade Statistics" for the United Kingdom, while those for 1992 can be found in the December 1992 issue of the monthly version of the same publication. Copies of these publications are in the House of Commons Library. Details of live animal classification within SITC 00 are shown in the "Guide to Classification for Overseas Trade Statistics", which is also in the House of Commons Library.

  Group Marketing Grant
  Mr. Roger Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the outcome of his review of the group marketing grant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We have today introduced a more accessible and user-friendly scheme in the light of the first year's experience and the comments received in a recent consultation exercise. The proposed changes were warmly welcomed by the industry. Copies of the new scheme have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Oil Dispersants
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to review his Ministry's system for testing and appraisal of oil dispersants for use at sea.

  Mr. Curry
  Our current arrangements for the testing and approval of dispersants for use on oil spilt at sea have been in place for a number of years. I have decided to review them. I shall be considering, in particular the standards against which dispersants are assessed for toxicity, efficiency and other aspects of performance; whether any changes are needed in the procedures for issuing approvals; the adequacy of information publicly available about the composition of dispersants.

  In addition, together with other relevant Ministers, and with the advice of the marine pollution control unit and the Warren Spring Laboratory, I will take account of the circumstances in which the use of chemical dispersants is likely to remain the most effective way to protect the environment from oil spilt at sea.

  My review will take into account any lessons learned from incidents in which dispersants have been used, and of the findings of the ecological steering group set up following the Braer incident by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and of Lord Donaldson's inquiry.

  I will consult widely during the conduct of the review.

  Agricultural Training Board
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions have been taken about the future status, funding and operation of the Agricultural Training Board following the consultation exercise that took place last month.

  Mr. Gummer
  The consultation exercise generated a very high level of response. The important role played by training groups was highlighted, but there was some criticism of the current ATB operational structure. Overall, there was no clear consensus in the comments received in favour of the package of changes proposed or continuing with the current arrangements. Nevertheless, it was apparent from the comments that some further restructuring and rationalisation of the ATB would be appropriate. In the longer term, I consider that the industry's training needs could be best serviced by an industry training organization—ITO—that is independent of government. However, there remain a number of issues to be resolved before I can confirm details of the changes.I will make a further announcement in due course.

  Government funding from MAFF will reduce to £2·6 million per year and will in future be directed primarily towards core ITO activities. These include the identification of training needs, developing and setting standards and the promotion of training within the industry. In addition, some funding will be directed towards local training support activities. There will be some scope to vary these arrangments in different parts of the country to meet specific local needs. It will be for the ATB board to take decisions on the future structure of the ATB and the nature of any local representational arrangements in the light of the Government and commercial funding available to it.

  Trichlorphon
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take measures to ban the use of the pesticide trichlorphon.

  Mr. Soames
  I have no plans to ban trichlorphon.

  Sheep Dips
  Sir Jim Spicer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the advice of the Veterinary Products Committee on his request as to whether a moratorium on organophosphorous sheep dips would be appropriate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Following my meeting with a parliamentary delegation on 16 February, I asked the Veterinary Products Committee for advice on whether it would be prudent, in the light of the evidence currently available, to have a moratorium on organophosphorous sheep dips until its current review of these products is complete. I have now received the following advice from the Committee:

  ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS SHEEP DIPS: VPC ADVICE
  1. At its meeting on 25 March the Veterinary Products Committee considered the Minister's request for advice on whether it would be prudent in the light of the evidence currently available to have a moratorium on organophosphorous (OP) sheep dips until its current review of these products is complete. For this meeting the Committee was joined by Peter Blain, Professor in Environmental Medicine at Newcastle University Medical School, Miss P Casey of the National Poisons Information Service (Birmingham Centre), and Dr. G D'Mello and Mr. D Swanston, consultant toxicologists, acting as expert consultants and participating fully in the Committee's deliberations.
  2. The Committee received the papers listed in the attached annex, saw photographs of the severe effects of sheep scab and myiasis (blowfly strike) in sheep, and heard presentations from the South West Environmental Protection Agency, the National Poisons Information Service (Guy's Hospital London Centre), the National Office of Animal Health, the Institute of Occupational Medicine at Edinburgh and the Health and Safety Executive.
  3. The Committee were advised that unless preventive measures were taken to combat myiasis and sheep scab, these distressing and potentially fatal diseases could cause severe welfare problems in sheep. The Committee were also advised that it is the responsibility of farmers to safeguard the welfare of their animals. Concern was expressed about recent reports of the increased incidence of sheep scab and its potential for spread, bearing in mind the contagious nature of the infestation. The current incidence of myiasis in United Kingdom flocks also gave cause for concern.
  4. The Committee noted:

  reports alleging adverse health effects in humans arising from the use of OP sheep dips;

  evidence that exposure to OP compounds during dipping was greatly reduced if the correct protective clothing was worn and correct dipping practices followed;

  that further research was in progress to assess the long term implications for human health from OP dip use;

  that some alternative products to OP dips were currently available for the prevention and treatment of sheep scab and myiasis, but insufficient quantities would be available for the (non statutory) 1993 summer dipping season;

  that if sheep scab and myiasis were left untreated serious animal welfare problems would ensue causing

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  the deaths of many sheep;

  that sheep dip could cause environmental harm if disposed of incorrectly.

  5. After careful consideration of all the evidence available to it, the Committee advises that OP sheep dips should continue to be available for the 1993 summer dip but that the future licensing of these products should reconsidered at its October 1993 meeting when it would wish to conclude its current review on the basis of the further data currently being generated.
  6. In the light of evidence of poor use of protective clothing and incorrect dipping practices however, the Committee recommends that the following action be taken:

  the potential hazards arising from the misuse of these products should be re-emphasised;

  clear advice should be made available from dip manufacturers and suppliers of clothing on the types of personal protective equipment which should be used when working with OP sheep dips;

  hazard symbols should be included on product labels, and hazard warnings and instructions to users should be standardised;

  users of sheep dips should be strongly encouraged to obtain a certificate of competence in the safe use of veterinary medicines, recently introduced by the National Proficiency Tests Council;

  HSE efforts to ensure that sheep dips are used safely should be endorsed;

  the continued reporting of suspected human adverse reactions to these products should be encouraged;

  7. The Committee also recommends that:

  consideration should be given to the siting of new dipping facilities, and the associated plans for dip disposal, being subject to planning controls with the regulatory water organisations as statutory consultees;

  better statistics on the actual usage of individual sheep dip products should be requested from the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.

  PAPERS CONSIDERED CONCERNING SHEEP DIPS
  (a) Published Papers

  Report of National Poisons Unit survey of exposure to sheep dip (1991).

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate/Health and Safety Executive guidance leaflets on safe handling and disposal of sheep dips and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health requirements.

  National Office of Animal Health leaflet on Organophosphorus Sheep Dips (November 1992).

  National Proficiency Tests Council, "Certificates of Competence in the Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines" (1993).

  Report on toxic chemicals in agriculture (Zuckerman Report)—1951 (HMSO).

  Chronic painters' syndrome, P. Arlien-Soborg et al, in Acta neurol. scandinay., 60 (1979).

  (b) Preliminary Papers intended for future publication by their authors

  Report of consideration of suspected adverse reactions by the Appraisal Panel for Human Suspected Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicines.

  Preliminary report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine on an assessment of occupational hygiene and exposure to insecticides and the effectiveness of protective clothing during sheep dipping operations.

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  Preliminary results of a study of the electrophysiological changes in the neuromuscular system and biochemical effects of a single dose of organophosphate in the mouse by S. S. Kelly, E. Mutch, F. M. Williams and P. G. Blain.

  Draft results of a study of peripheral nerve dysfunction in farmers using sheep dip, undertaken by Dr. G. A. Jamal and others.

  (c) VPC Papers available to enquirers

  Summary of existing scientific literature on long-term effects of organophosphorus compounds in humans.

  Summary of current research into organophosphorus compounds.

  Paper on disposal of sheep dips.

  A paper on product labels: operator and environmental warnings.

  Summary of suspected human adverse reaction reports received by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

  Text of presentation made by Mrs. E. Sigmund, South West Environmental Protection Agency.

  Summary of presentation made by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh.

  A simplified overview of the spectrum of efficacy of sheep ectoparasiticides used in the United Kingdom.

  (d) VPC papers containing confidential information

  Details of products currently licensed as ectoparasiticides for sheep.

  Evaluation of toxicity data and estimation of consumer risk for:

  —Chlorfenvinphos

  —Diazinon

  —Propetamphos

  Data on impurities present in diazinon, chlorfenvinphos and propetamphos used in the manufacture of sheep dips.

  Data on residues in fleece and lanolin and problems for the woollen industry."

  I have accepted this advice and my officials are now discussing with representatives of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, the companies concerned and other interested parties the arrangements for the urgent implementation of the committee's recommendations.
  I am grateful to the committee for the full and careful consideration it has given to these difficult issues, and look forward to receiving further advice after its October meeting.
  Copies of the published papers, and those marked as available to inquirers, identified in the annex listing papers considered by the Veterinary Products Committee at its meeting, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Policy Discussion Papers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the terms of the letter of confidentiality required to be signed by merchant banks, accountancy practices and other independent advisers to Government Departments when advice on policy discussion papers is commissioned from the private sector; whether the terms of that letter are standard throughout all Government Departments; when he last reviewed the need for advisers to be constrained in this way; and what were his conclusions.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is for Departments and agencies individually to seek appropriate assurances of confidentiality from those with whom they have dealings. The
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  terms of such assurances will vary according to the prevailing circumstances, including the nature of the official dealings. If my hon. Friend has a specific concern and will write to me with further details of it, I will pursue the matter further.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Office of Public Service and Science has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in its areas of responsibility in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993.

  Discussions continue with the higher education funding councils and other departments about ways in which the joint funding of infrastructural facilities in the science base might be achieved. On 10 March 1993, I announced the success of the United Kingdom's bid to host the European bioinformatics institute at Cambridge, which will be funded by the Government and the Wellcome Trust.

  Chessington Computer Centre
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future of the Chessington computer centre.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am pleased to announce that I have today established Chessington Computer Centre as an executive agency and trading fund within my Department. The arrangements for the agency are described in full in its framework document, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both houses.

  Chessington provides a wide range of computerised payroll, personnel, financial accounting, superannuation awarding and other administrative services to customers in central Government and the wider public sector. Over 60 per cent. of civil servants are now paid using Chessington's payroll services and all computerised superannuation awards in central Government are made on Chessington's software. Executive agency and trading fund status will allow Chessington to develop its business on sound commercial lines, thereby enabling the agency to deliver increasing improvements in its services to customers, more efficiently and effectively.

  I have set Chessington Computer Centre the following key targets:

  (a) with the concurrence of the Treasury, the further financial target in 1993–94 of achievement of an operating surplus of £1·1 million.

  (b) achievement of an average 6 per cent. increase in pay clerk productivity year on year over the period 1993–94 to 1995–96;

  (c) for 1993–94, achievement of online availability of 97·5 per cent for all services; and

  (d) over the period to 1995–96, meeting the quality of service standards agreed with customers in their customer service agreements.

  Chessington is a definite candidate for privatisation. It is not being privatised immediately due to a lack of a commercial track record and of direct competition.
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  Consideration of privatisation has been deferred to 1995 to give time for Chessington to establish its trading performance and for private sector competition to develop.

  I have appointed Mr. Robert Edwards to be chief executive of Chessington. He will be directly accountable to me for the management and performance of Chessington. I wish him and all the staff of Chessington every success for the future.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of the next steps initiative.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Work on agency creation has continued. During the first week of April a further 13 agencies will be launched. This will bring the total number of agencies to 89. More than 350,000 civil servants, almost 60 per cent. of the total, will be working in agencies and other organisations working on next steps lines. In addition, a further 19 candidates have been announced covering over 25,000 more civil servants and other areas are under consideration. All candidates will be identified by the end of 1993 with the aim of launching them by mid-1995—end-1994 and mid-1996 in Northern Ireland.

  Within the civil service, agencies are a key vehicle for putting into practice the principles of the citizens charter. Some of the new agencies will issue a charter or charter standards statement at launch. Others will do so soon. All agencies are committed to delivering a high quality of service.

  All the new agencies have been set key performance targets for their first year of operation. The details will be given by my right hon. Friends when announcing individual agency launches.

  The list of agencies established or to be established by 5 April 1993 is:

  Staff1

  Accounts Services Agency

  85

  ADAS Agency

  2,280

  Army Base Repair Organisation2

  3,800

  Building Research Establishment

  700

  Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  245

  Central Office of Information3

  620

  Central Science Laboratory

  375

  Central Statistical Office

  1,235

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  615

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

  600

  Chessington Computer Centre2 3

  450

  Child Support Agency2

  3,500

  Civil Service College

  230

  Companies House3

  1,035

  Compensation Agency4

  150

  Defence Analytical Services Agency

  130

  Defence Operational Analysis Centre

  175

  Defence Postal and Courier Services

  485

  Defence Research Agency3

  11,260

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts

  2,460

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  4,450

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency4

  260

  Driving Standards Agency

  1,900

  Duke of York's Royal Military School

  95

  DVOIT

  480

  Employment Service

  44,610

  Fire Service College3

  285

  Forensic Science Service

  615

  Government Property Lawyers2

  130

  Her Majesty's Prison Service2

  37,420

  333

  Staff1

  Historic Royal Palaces

  350

  Historic Scotland

  630

  HMSO3

  3,175

  Hydrographic Office

  815

  Insolvency Service

  1,530

  Intervention Board

  970

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  330

  Land Registry3

  9,510

  Medicines Control Agency3

  325

  Meteorological Office

  2,460

  Military Survey

  1,155

  National Physical Laboratory

  790

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  50

  Natural Resources Institute

  440

  Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation

  1,630

  NEL

  375

  NHS Estates

  140

  NHS Pensions Agency

  630

  Northern Ireland Child Support Agency2 4

  700

  Occupational Health Service

  125

  Ordnance Survey

  2,280

  Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland4

  210

  Patent Office3

  1,015

  Paymaster General's Office2

  855

  Pesticides Safety Directorate2

  170

  Planning Inspectorate

  605

  Public Record Office

  445

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  60

  Queen Victoria School

  65

  Radiocommunications Agency

  535

  RAF Maintenance

  12,855

  Rate Collection Agency4

  280

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  190

  Registers of Scotland

  1,295

  Royal Mint3

  1,005

  Royal Parks2

  260

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  145

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  215

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency2

  185

  Scottish Prison Service2

  4,600

  Scottish Record Office2

  125

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) 5

  1,110

  Social Security Agency4

  5,100

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  64,215

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  8,745

  Social Security Information Technology Services Agency

  4,090

  Social Security Resettlement Agency

  455

  Teachers' Pensions Agency

  290

  The Buying Agency3

  90

  Training and Employment Agency4

  1,670

  Transport Research Laboratory

  685

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  1,290

  Valuation and Lands Agency2 4

  360

  Valuation Office

  5,030

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  75

  Vehicle Inspectorate3

  1,780

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  75

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  285

  Wilton Park Conference Centre

  25

  89 in number TOTAL

  269,570

  Less Armed Forces personnel 7,730

  TOTAL CIVIL SERVANTS 261,840

  Customs and Excise6 (30 Executive Units)

  25,610

  Inland Revenue6 (34 Executive Offices)

  63,105

  GRAND TOTAL

  350,555

  1 October 1992 figures excluding casuals, except new agencies which show staffing figure at launch date. Part-time staff are counted as half units.

  2To be launched in the first week of April 1993.

  3Trading Fund.

  4Northern Ireland Civil Service.

  334
  5Excludes locally engaged staff.

  6Departments operating fully on next steps lines. Staffing figure for Inland Revenue excludes the Valuation Office which is a free standing Agency.

  The list of candidates for agency status announced by Ministers is as follows:

  Staff1

  Army Logistics

  28,440

  Defence Animal Centre

  220

  Defence Central Services

  1,385

  Directorate Information Technology Bureau Services

  120

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing (NI)3

  150

  Equipment Test and Evaluation

  2,220

  Fisheries Research Services

  270

  Fuel Suppliers Branch

  20

  Human Factors Research

  390

  Meat Hygiene Service4

  1,800

  MOD Police

  5,075

  Naval Training and Recruitment

  5,200

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

  1,995

  Property Holdings Portfolio Management

  1,645

  RAF Training

  9,200

  Surveyor General's Organisation

  350

  Transport and Security Services Division

  1,235

  War Pensions Directorate

  1,250

  Youth Treatment Service

  200

  19 in number Total

  41,165

  Less armed forces personnel:

  15,765

  TOTAL CIVIL SERVANTS:

  25,400

  1October 1992 figures excluding casuals. Part-time staff are counted as half units.

  2Estimated to require 8,440 staff, drawn from a variety of sources.

  3Northern Ireland Civil Service.

  4Estimated to require 1,800 staff, drawn from a variety of sources.

EMPLOYMENT

  Electrical Equipment Certification Service
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the Health and Safety Executive's electrical equipment certification service.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation would be necessary to privatise the electrical equipment certification service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following a recent consultants' report, which recommended privatisation of the electrical equipment certification service, the future of the service is being considered by the Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Commission.

  Privatisation would require primary legislation and we will be seeking parliamentary approval for powers which would enable privatisation to proceed.

  Unemployed People (Courses)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether unemployed people who have once been required to attend either a Restart course or a jobplan workshop, and who have complied with that requirement, are free from a subsequent requirement to attend such a workshop or course in a particular spell of unemployment; and if she will make a statement.
  335
  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is not our intention that people should be required to attend more than one Restart course or more than one jobplan workshop within a spell of unemployment if they have already been required to attend and have completed the full programme.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who were the successful bidders for the contracts for jobplan workshops—JWPC/B93/12—and Restart courses—RCC/B93/11; what criteria were used for the selection of the successful tenders; and whether the lowest tenders were accepted.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated March 1993:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about Restart Courses and Jobplan Workshops. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  It may help if I explain that contracts for Employment Service programmes are normally awarded as a result of competitive tendering. Such an exercise has recently been carried out for all Jobplan contracts and for Restart Courses contracts. Potential providers are normally invited to a briefing with the Employment Service Contract Manager where they are issued with the national specification for the programme that they wish to tender for. It is made clear at pre-briefing sessions that the over-riding factor which the Employment Service will consider when assessing tenders is value for money. I am attaching an extract from the Employment Service "Tendering and Contracting Guide" laying out the key criteria used to assess a tender. As you will see, these include cost factors but not to the exclusion of other items. Indeed, the point is stressed throughout the process that the Employment Service will not necessarily accept the lowest price on offer.

  You refer to two specific cases in Barnsley. The Jobplan contracts have been awarded to the Chamber of Commerce Training (Barnsley) and Personal Evaluation Consultants, a local training organisation. The Restart Course contract has been awarded to the Chamber of Commerce Training (Barnsley). These organisations were judged to have submitted the best tenders. The decision followed full consideration of all the proposals in line with the guidelines set out by the Treasury's Public Purchasing Policy.

  You asked whether the lowest tenders were accepted. I believe that it would be inappropriate to disclose confidential information relating to the costs of any of the individual proposals.

  I hope this is helpful.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Assessment of tenders

  10.1 The over-riding principle is that the assessment process must be systematic, thorough and fair, and be seen as such. After the final schedule of tenders has been prepared, all tenders should be submitted at once to the ACM, who has the authority to recommend acceptance of a particular tender.

  10.2 When assessing proposals the main factors to take into consideration are:

  (i) that the proposal meets the required specification;

  336

  (ii) that 'value for money' is being met; in other words, that the desired quality can be achieved at a reasonable cost, that the proposed outputs are satisfactory;

  (iii) the cost (including total costs, staff costs, premises costs, and consumable costs, VAT whether payable or not). A management fee, or profit margin can reasonably be included; it is the total cost which is important in relation to numbers helped/outputs specified;

  (iv) the premises (accessibility, situation, space, heating, lighting, toilets, access for people with disabilities, etc);

  (v) the ability and expertise of the tutor/leader, management support and back up arrangements;

  (vi) other considerations eg administrative support, facilities and equipment; and

  (vii) the ability of the provider to be flexible in the delivery of courses in terms of location, frequency and tutor/leader cover.

  10.3 A record sheet should be completed to compare tenders on each of the major factors above. A suggested proforma is at Appendix 10.

  10.4 Note: Tender cost comparisons should be made on the price before VAT is added.

  The lowest tender should be accepted only if the quality of the proposed programme is considered to be of an acceptable and appropriate standard. The over-riding factor is "Value for Money".

  10.5 Other factors may, however, influence the decision, eg, a more suitable location or a more experienced tutor or leader. It is therefore recommended that a shortlist of possible providers be drawn up.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how engagement in an industrial tribunal hearing affects the state benefit status of the applicant.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Hilary Armstrong, dated March 1993:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about how engagement in an industrial tribunal hearing affects the state benefit status of the applicant. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  There are a range of possible effects which an Industrial Tribunal hearing may have on a claim for unemployment benefit and I have set them out below.

  The Employment Protection Act gives employees statutory protection against unfair dismissal by their employer, along with other provisions concerning issues such as contractors of employment, wages questions and breach of contract, all of which are dealt with by Industrial Tribunals.

  A claimant may be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for up to 26 weeks if they left their employment voluntarily or were dismissed because of misconduct. When a claim for unemployment is made, if it appears that the claimant contributed to their loss of employment, payments are withheld pending further enquiries of the claimant, their employer, or both and, where necessary, the decision of an independent adjudication officer is sought. If an Industrial Tribunal is pending and there is a conflict of evidence that cannot be resolved, the adjudication officer may refer the case to a Social Security Appeal Tribunal (SSAT) for a decision. The Social Security adjudicating authorities and the Industrial Tribunals are entirely independent of each other. Decisions of one are not binding on the other, however it is

  337
  possible that the evidence recorded by the Industrial Tribunal may be taken into account by a SSAT in reaching their decision.

  Where a decision is given in favour of the client any arrears of benefit withheld are paid. It is a fundamental condition for receipt of benefit that a person be available for work on each day that they claim. For someone attending a tribunal they would have to be available for work at 24 hours' notice.

  Where an Industrial Tribunal makes an award under the Employment Protection Act the Secretary of State is empowered to recover from the award, some or all of the unemployment benefit or income support already paid for the same period. The amount of benefit to be recovered depends on the amount that is awarded by the Industrial Tribunal for the period between the date of dismissal and the date of the Industrial Tribunal hearing. If an award is made in respect of the future loss of earnings there may be no unemployment benefit entitlement for any part of the period specified in the award which falls within a year of the termination of the unemployment.

  I hope this is helpful.

  As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Training Schemes
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the benefit entitlement of unemployed people who take up places on(a) the learning for work programme and (b) the community action programme; in what ways these will differ from the situation of those who join training for work; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  People participating in learning for work and community action will receive an allowance equal to their unemployment benefit and/or income support entitlement when unemployed. Community action participants will receive an additional premium of £10 a week. In each case their eligibility for other social security benefits will be the same as that of training for work participants.

  Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost to British industry of the implementation of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  At the time of the drafting of these regulations, the Health and Safety Executive estimated that the quantifiable costs to employers would be in the order of £250,000 per annum at 1988 prices.

  Employers who were already complying with existing legal requirements regarding the maintenance of electrical equipment should not have found it necessary to incur additional charges in order to comply with these regulations.

  Unemployment, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment figure for the travel-to-work area of the city of Liverpool in figures and percentage terms at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In February 1993, unadjusted claimant unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work 338
  area was 73,996 or 15·2 per cent. of the work force. This is 29 per cent. lower than in June 1986, when claimant unemployment in the region was at its peak.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she plans to improve the unemployment situation in the city of Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The overall policy of the Department is to promote a free and flexible labour market that is designed to help encourage employment in Liverpool, as in all areas. In addition, the Department provides a range of employment and training programmes and local initiatives, through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils, to help people increase their skills, and equip themselves for work. From April 1993, this range of measures is being enhanced and expanded.

  Cricketers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many applications by professional cricketers for work permits to play cricket in the United Kingdom have been(a) granted and (b) refused to date in 1993; what changes have been made this year to the criteria for granting work permits; which British cricketing organisations were consulted about policy changes for granting work permits; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) how many work permits were issued by the overseas labour section to cricketers to play cricket in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; how many applications for work permits were (a) granted and (b) refused by country or origin in each year; what are the qualifying criteria for granting work permits; and on what dates such criteria were altered.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information about the number of work permits issued by the overseas labour section for cricketers to play in Great Britain is not available. Work permits are issued only to cricketers who have experience of playing first-class cricket in their own country and who it is considered will not take employment away from resident players. The terms and conditions on offer have to be equivalent to those which apply to resident players.

  The Department has a consistent policy with regard to the issue of work permits for cricketers. The criteria have not changed and, following discussions with the League Cricket Conference, Test and County Cricket Board, National Cricket Association and the Scottish Cricket Union, no changes are envisaged.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what basis Indian and Pakistani nationals who are professional cricketers are judged to be qualified to apply for work permits to play cricket in the United Kingdom; how many appeals against refusal to grant a work permit have been lodged this year, to date; and how many appeals(a) have been upheld, (b) have been dismissed and (c) are awaiting decision.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Applications to employ professional cricketers who are Indian and Pakistani nationals are considered on the same basis as those for players from any other country. Information about appeals against decisions to refuse applications for cricketers is not available.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of prosecutions made in each EC country for breaches in each country's health and safety legislation and the total fines realised in each of the last three years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 30 March 1993]: The information is not available in the form requested. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has carried out a comparison of accident statistics in France, Italy,
  340
  Germany and Spain compared with the United Kingdom. The conclusions were published in 1991 in "Workplace Health and Safety in Europe", a copy of which is in the Library.

  During the United Kingdom presidency, we gave prominence to the need for a more consistent approach to the implementation and enforcement of EC legislation, including directives on health and safety. A comparison of sanction arrangements in member states would be useful in this context. We would hope that the Commission could include such a study in its future work programme.

  Noise at Work
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition notices were issued against employers in 1990–91 and 1991–92 relating to the control of noise at work for each of them geographical areas of(a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the agricultural inspectorate and (c) the quarries inspectorate; and what were the penalties in each case.

  Requirements made under the Noise at Work Regulations on Prohibition Notices1 issued against by the Health and Safety Executive's Executive's (HSE) Factory, Agricultural and Quarries Inspectoral during 1990–91 and 1991–922

  HSE area

  Factory inspectorate

  Agricultural inspectorate

  Quarries inspectorate

  1990–91

  1991–923

  1990–91

  1991–923

  1990–91

  1991–923

  South West

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South East

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Anglia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Northern Home Counties

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Midlands

  6

  15

  —.

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wales

  3

  —

  1

  —.

  —

  —

  Marches

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Midlands

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West and North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North West

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North East

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland East

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland West

  18

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  35

  26

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1Includes deferred and immediate prohibition notices.

  2Years commencing 1 April.

  3Provisional.

  Safety and Hygiene
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give the full title of the projects and the amount of funding asked for in the applications for EC funding for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection from March 1992 to February 1993.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The United Kingdom received 330 applications, which asked in total for nearly 9·8 mecu. I shall place a list of the project titles in the Library.

  Mr. Galbraiith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which projects related to the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection, have received an EC grant of 1 million ecu or more.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the outcome of the individual projects supported with regard to improving the health, safety or welfare of employees at work during the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection 1992–93; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The United Kingdom is currently contributing to the European Commission's final assessment of the year, which will include information about EC-supported projects. It will be published in October 1993 and I shall place a copy in the Library. In
  342
  Mr. McLoughlin
  Prohibition notices do not impose explicit penalties. They are issued when there is a risk of serious personal injury. They require specified remedial action to be taken, usually immediately, to comply with the relevant statutory provisions.

  The following requirements were made on prohibition notices issued during the periods 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  making recommendations for EC funding, the United Kingdom sought to support practical initiatives to improve health and safety in the workplace.

  Employment, Greater London
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what her Department forecasts to be the size of the Greater London labour force in 2000; and what it forecasts to be the total number of jobs available in the capital in the same year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the year 2000, the civilian labour force in Greater London is projected to be 3,485,000. The Department does not make forecasts of employment or unemployment.

  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of employees in employment in the Greater London area in each main sector for each year since 1979.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The information is available from September 1981 from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Gas Boilers
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to improve safety inspection arrangements for domestic gas boilers and flues in holiday homes available for commercial rent.
  343
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984 cover the installation, maintenance and use of most domestic gas appliances. However, they do not require landlords to service such appliances in their properties. The regulations are currently under review and the Health and Safety Commission is expected to publish a consultative document later in the year.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Private Finance Initiatives
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the "Treasury Private Finance Guidance" published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Our early examination of how the Government's private finance initiative might be pursued within the Lord Chancellor's Department has not identified any immediate possibilities for joint ventures, and our present leasing of equipment from the private sector falls outside the scope of the initiative. We will continue to seek the most efficient means of financing procurement and capital projects, including the possibility of private sector investment.

  Recorders
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many women recorders and assistant recorders there are.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As at 1 March 1993, there were 41 female recorders out of a total of 828 and 50 female assistant recorders out of a total of 428.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many ethnic minority recorders and assistant recorders there are.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The ethnic origin of applicants for judicial appointment was not recorded prior to the autumn of 1991 so the available information may not be complete. As at 1 March 1993 there were, however, 10 recorders out of a total of 828 and seven assistant recorders out of a total of 428 who are believed to be of ethnic minority origin.

  Lease Assignments
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will introduce legislation to abolish the liability of original losses, by virtue of privity of contract, for the defaults of assignees of their lease.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 31 March 1993,Official Report, column 197.

  Circuit Judges
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many circuit judges are aged over 65 years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As at 1 March 1993, there were 490 circuit judges in post. Of these, 101 had passed their 65th birthday.
  344
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many circuit judges have already completed 15 years' service.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As at 1 March 1993, 61 out of the 490 circuit judges in post had completed 15 years' service as circuit judges.

  Land Ownership
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of land acreage in England and Wales is currently owned by trusts located outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Land Registry does not maintain statistics relating to registered land acreage or to the purpose or nature of business of registered proprietors. To obtain the information requested would involve an inspection of each specific registration and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Law Officers Departments last conducted surveys of(a) ethnic origins and (b) the number of women among their employees; when they next plan to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The position in the Departments for which I am responsible is as follows:

  (a) survey of ethnic origins—the Crown prosecution service conducted a survey in January 1990, which was followed up in June 1990 and December 1991. In the next few months, the service will be resurveying those who have not yet submitted a questionnaire. All new entrants to the service are required to complete a questionnaire on application. The Treasury Solicitor's Department last conducted a survey in January 1993 and the next survey will be in January 1994. The Serious Fraud Office has not conducted a specific survey, and has no plans to do so, as the information is available from staff records.

  (b) Survey of the number of women—neither the Crown prosecution service nor the SFO undertakes, or plans to undertake, particular surveys of the sex of staff, as the information is available from staff records. The Treasury Solicitor's Department last conducted a survey in January 1993 and the next survey will be in January 1994.

  Neither survey has been conducted, or is planned to be conducted, in respect of members of the legal secretariat, as they are on secondment from other Government Departments.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at the Law Officers' Departments.

  The Attorney-General
  Recruits to the senior grades—as to any grade in the civil service—are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, unless one of the exceptions permitted under the Civil Service Order in Council 1991 applies. Various steps have been taken by the Civil Service Commissioners to aid recruitment from all sectors of the community including extending links with institutions of higher education; equal opportunities training for those involved in selection; and using validated selection procedures.
  345
  Both the Crown prosecution service and the Serious Fraud Office have joined Opportunity 2000. The Crown prosecution service published a "Programme for Action on Race" in October 1991 and will release shortly a similar "Programme for Action on Disability".

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to

  Grade

  Women

  Ethnic

  Registered disabled

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Crown Prosecution Service

  1

  1

  (100)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  2

  (3·4)

  1

  (1·9)

  —

  —

  6

  26

  (12·9)

  2

  (1·3)

  —

  —

  7

  922

  (45·3)

  67

  (5·6)

  10

  (0·5)

  Overall (All)

  4,002

  (61·2)

  272

  (6·2)

  46

  (0·7)

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  (50)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1

  (25)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  10

  (23)

  1

  (2)

  —

  —

  6

  12

  (19)

  1

  (2)

  —

  —

  7

  28

  (35)

  7

  (9)

  —

  —

  Overall (All)

  190

  (37)

  57

  (11)

  8

  (2)

  Serious Fraud Office

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  2

  (16·6)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  5

  (35·7)

  1

  (7·1)

  —

  —

  7

  3

  (30)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Overall (All)

  65

  (45·5)

  14

  (9·8)

  —

  —

  Members of the legal secretariat will be reflected, as appropriate, in the records of the Government Departments from which they are seconded.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council Housing
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have sold off all of their council housing stock.

  Mr. Baldry
  To date, a total of 21 local authorities have disposed of all, or the vast majority, of their housing stock through large-scale voluntary transfers. The councils concerned are listed in the table. Those marked with an asterisk no longer have any council housing stock other than hostels or part shares in dwellings sold under shared ownership schemes.

  Breckland DC∗

  Broadland DC∗

  Bromley LBC∗

  Chiltern DC∗

  Christchurch DC∗

  East Cambridgeshire DC∗

  East Dorset DC

  Medina DC

  Mid Sussex DC

  Newbury DC

  North Bedfordshire DC

  346
  7 and overall in the Law Officers' Departments are (a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled people.

  The Attorney-General: The position in the Departments for which I am responsible is as follows:

  Rochester DC∗

  Ryedale DC

  Sevenoaks DC

  South Buckinghamshire DC

  South Wight DC

  Suffolk Coastal DC

  Surrey Heath DC∗

  Swale DC

  Tonbridge and Mailing DC

  Tunbridge Wells DC

  Council Tax
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average band C council tax in Conservative-controlled, Labour-controlled and Liberal-controlled local authorities.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The average headline band C council tax in areas under Conservative control is £456. This is £107 lower than the corresponding figure for Labour areas and £19 lower than the corresponding figure for Liberal areas.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the last five years, the duration, value and nature of contracts awarded
  347
  by his Department to Arthur Andersen, Andersen Consulting, KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock, Touche Ross, Ernst and Young and Pice Waterhouse.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Solihull Unitary Development Plan
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he now proposes to review the housing figure of 7,500 in the Solihull unitary development plan originally recommended in the west midlands strategic guidance of February 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The strategic guidance for the west midlands, published in February 1988, establishes the level of new housing completions to be provided in individual unitary development plans between April 1988 and March 2001. The Secretary of State considers that it is not the role of those individual plans to review the strategic guidance figures. Such a review will be carried out in the context of regional guidance for the west midlands, which the Secretary of State intends to publish during 1994.

  The inspector into the Solihull unitary development plan endorsed this approach. However, in examining the level of housing supply needed to meet the figure of 7,500, he concluded that further sites should be identified, and he also indicated that the authority should identify a reasonable amount of further land to meet longer-term development needs. The borough council is considering his recommendations and will publish its response in the form of proposed modifications, which will themselves be open to objection.

  Urban Regeneration Agency
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been received for the post of chief executive of the Urban Regeneration Agency; when interviews will be held; and who will decide who is to be appointed.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A total of 178 applications have been received. The date for interviews has yet to be set. Lord Walker, as the Urban Regeneration Agency's chairman-designate, will play a leading role in the selection process, and the appointment will be made by the agency when established.

  India
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on matters discussed and decisions taken during his recent visit to India.

  Mr. Howard
  I visited India from 17 to 21 March in order to underline United Kingdom support for environment conservation measures in India and to emphasise our interest in further co-operation as well as to continue the dialogue with India on international environmental issues.

  I toured the Western Ghats forestry project in Karnataka state where our Overseas Development Administration is funding the joint management by local
  348
  people and the authorities of a large forest area. In Delhi, I had constructive and practical discussions with members of the Indian Government on environmental issues, including the important role our two countries are playing in the follow-up to Rio, on possible further joint initiatives in that context, on international co-operation and on the ways in which British industry can collaborate with and work in India, particularly in the context of the Indo-British partnership initiative. I also met environmental scientists and held discussions with leading industrialists.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 1992,Official Report, columns 835–36, what have been the sources of the representations made to the Energy Efficiency Office recommending the abolition of the client contribution.

  Mr. Maclean
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has received a number of representations from Neighbourhood Energy Action on the abolition of the client contribution. In addition, letters in support of Neighbourhood Energy Action's request have been received from one hon. Member and the chairman of British Gas.

  Woodgate Valley Site
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the future use of Woodgate Valley site A in Birmingham.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Secretary of State has received three letters objecting to the recommendation to allocate the site for industrial use made by the inspector, who held a public inquiry into Birmingham's unitary development plan between November 1991 and February 1992.

  Local Authorities (Complaints System)
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have a formal complaints system for service users; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held centrally. The position of individual local authorities will be published in local newspapers next year as part of the Audit Commission's work on local government performance indicators. National information will be published by the commission in 1995.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy with regard to planning appeals in respect of existing opencast mining applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight), on 25 March,Official Report, columns 714–15.

  Housing Partnership Scheme
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by local authority, the total bid for funding under the housing partnership scheme and indicate the allocation made in cash terms and as a percentage of the bid.

  Mr. Baldry
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  National Parks
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his current plans in relation to legislation for the creation of a new board structure for the administration of national park authorities in England and Wales.

  Mr. Maclean
  Our policy statement on the national parks, published in January 1992, promised legislation to create independent authorities for the eight national parks in England and Wales currently run as county council committees. I fully recognise the importance of introducing national park legislation at the earliest opportunity and I have repeatedly said that we will do so.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will be receiving a reply to his letter of 1 March on behalf of a constituent and which had been originally sent to the Department of Social Security.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I replied to the hon. Member on 31 March 1993.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to enable London to be considered in the future as a suitable city to host the Olympic games.

  Authority's 1993–94 budget

  Proposed cap

  Original council tax for 2 adult band D dwelling

  Council tax reduction implied by proposed cap for 2 adult band D dwelling

  £ million

  £ million

  £

  £

  Castle Point

  8·470

  7·97

  625

  18

  Gloucestershire

  316·889

  306·61

  (474–636)

  55

  Harlow

  17·953

  11·20

  987

  288

  The principles that I have adopted for selecting these authorities broadly give effect to the provisional criteria which I announced to the House on 26 November 1992.

  I consider, on the basis of all the available information, that my proposed caps are reasonable, appropriate and achievable in all the circumstances of the authorities concerned. If the authorities accept my proposed caps new lower bills will be able to be issued without delay.

  Authorities have 28 days in which to accept or challenge my proposed caps. In the latter case, they must specify an alternative cap, together with their reasons for it. In such circumstances, it is open to me to set the final cap at the level originally proposed or some different
  350
  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Bolton Council
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has concluded his consideration of the response from Bolton metropolitan borough council to the notice served on the authority on 29 October 1992 under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. and learned Friend has now completed his careful consideration of the response which Bolton has made to the notice served on the authority on 29 October 1992, and has today given a direction under section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The effect of the direction is that the authority is required to demonstrate to the Secretary of State's satisfaction that before the current arrangements come to an end in March 1995, the tendering conditions set out in section 9(4) of the Act, have been complied with before any of this building maintenance work is again assigned to the direct labour organisation.

  Council Tax Capping
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how local authorities have budgeted for 1993–94; what decisions in the light of those budgets he has reached on council tax capping for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  This year, the first years of the council tax, all but a tiny minority of authorities have set affordable budgets and council taxes. Only three of 419 English authorities have in my opinion set budgets which are excessive or represent an excessive year-on-year increase.

  I have designated these three authorities—Castle Point, Gloucestershire, and Harlow—for capping and I have proposed caps as shown in the table.

  amount. If an authority does not accept my proposed cap I have to set the final cap by order, a draft of which must be approved by the House of Commons.

  Local Income Tax
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exemplify, for a single person on average earnings, what would be the annual liability and the rate in the pound under a local income tax system for each local authority area in England in 1993–94 assuming(a) the budgets which local authorities have set for that year and (b) full resource equalisation.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Toxic Waste (Transport)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he has taken to(a) monitor and (b) prevent the import of toxic waste cargo containing dioxin TCDD from Hamburg through Hull to Pontypool;

  (2) when he now intends to implement a ban on the import of toxic waste from developed countries;

  (3) what information he has about the proposed importation of toxic waste containing dioxin TCDD from Hamburg through Hull to Pontypool.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 March 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) on 30 March, Official Report, column 138.

  The Government intend to use the EC waste shipments regulation after it applies in May 1994 to reduce, as far as possible, the amount of waste imported for final disposal.

EDUCATION

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Forth
  The reply that I gave to my right hon. Friend on 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 347, set out the Department's role in supporting the introduction of private finance in schools, further and higher education. The Department is now examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993.

  Sex Education
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to allow the introduction of condoms in schools;

  (2) if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that sex education in schools embraces a moral code and the responsibilities of parenthood.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. Section 46 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986 already requires that any sex education which schools provide—whether or not it is required as part of the national curriculum—should be given in such a manner as to encourage pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life.

  Testbourne School, Whitchurch
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to take a decision on the application of Testbourne school, Whitchurch, Hampshire, for grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has approved the application for the acquisition of grant-maintained status by Testbourne school with effect from 1 September 1993.

  Staff-Student Ratios
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest staff-to-student ratios in further and higher education colleges and universities.

  Mr. Boswell
  Data for student to staff ratios in further and higher education and universities are shown in the table for the academic year 1991–92.

  1991–92

  LEA Maintained establishments

  Futher education

  11·9

  Higher education1

  9·1

  PCFC Institutions

  17·0

  Universities (Great Britain)

  212·5

  1 Following the transfer of polytechnics and colleges of higher education to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC) in 1989 higher education forms only a small part of the provision in maintained establishments.

  2 Provisional.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about teachers' pay in 1993–94.

  Mr. Patten
  On 12 February, the Prime Minister announced that the Government proposed to implement, with modifications, the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body for teachers' pay in England and Wales for 1993–94. After careful consideration of the representations I have received from the local authorities, the teachers' associations and others, I remain convinced that the restructuring recommended by the STRB is the right way forward, and I intend to implement it on 1 September 1993. In the light of the observations that have been made to me, I have decided to ease the introduction of the new pay spine by offering some flexibility in the assimilation arrangements, where this proves necessary.

  Firstly, there will be cash safeguarding to ensure that no teacher will be worse off under the new arrangements on 1 September than if the old structure had been left in place. This safeguarding will be lifted as soon as a teacher's points entitlement under the new system overtakes the safeguarded salary.

  Secondly, while LEAs and schools are expected to implement the new structure, they may, if necessary, preserve the discretionary inner London supplement for one more year as a separate allowance of £822 for the teachers who now hold it, instead of converting it into an extra spine point. No new payments will be authorised, but the new system will permit a third point on the spine to be awarded for recruitment or retention in inner London schools.

  Thirdly, discretionary scale points may also be preserved for one more year at their 31 August cash value, instead of being converted automatically into new spine points. There will be no new awards of discretionary scale points. The new structure will permit up to three spine points to be awarded for excellence, which in many cases will overtake the discretionary scale points from 1 September.
  353
  These changes will not significantly vary the cost of the award, which falls within the 0–1·5 per cent. range for pay settlements in the public sector.

  In response to requests for clarification of entitlement to the mandatory spine point for teachers of pupils in ordinary schools with special educational needs, I have decided that the new school teachers' pay and conditions document will define such entitlement in terms of those wholly or mainly teaching pupils with statements of special educational needs.

  I am today laying before Parliament a pay and conditions order bringing into force the new rates of pay which will apply from 1 April, and providing for lump sum payments of £90 to be made to qualified classroom teachers in May. Copies of this order, and details of the revised arrangements for the introduction of the new pay spine in September, are being sent to all maintained schools, to all local education authorities and to the teachers' and employers' associations.

  Drafts of the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1993, which will set out the details of the new pay structure which is to apply from 1 September and will provide for assimilation from the old structure to the new, and of the associated circular of guidance, will shortly be sent to the relevant teachers' and employers' associations and to representatives of the governors of voluntary schools and grant-maintained schools.

  Violence in Schools
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment has been made of the change in the incidence of violence in schools since the abolition of corporal punishment.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has not commissioned any such studies.

  Physical Education
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average number of hours per week allocated to physical education in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available.

  Undergraduates (Suicides)
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students at English universities have committed suicide in each of the last three years; and how many were male and how many female.

  Mr. Boswell
  The table shows numbers of deaths in England and Wales from suicide for full-time students aged 18 and over.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Men

  73

  57

  64

  Women

  15

  15

  21

  Total

  88

  72

  85

  The suicides in the three years represent approximately 11 per 100,000 of the full-time student population in further and higher education aged 18 and over.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Parks
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made towards establishing the royal parks as an executive agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I am pleased to announce that the Royal Parks Agency will be established today. The royal parks are London's most important recreational areas. They are important historic landscapes which make a vital contribution to the character of the city alongside its great buildings. The aims and objectives of the agency are set out in a framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. I am confident that the managerial freedoms granted to the chief executive in the framework document will enable the Royal Parks Agency to provide the highest standards of excellence and customer service. The key targets which I have set the agency for its first year of operation are:

  Conservation

  1. To prepare up-to-date condition surveys and prepare renovation and forward maintenance programmes for trees, buildings and horticulture.

  2. To develop and institute during 1993–94 an independent assessment of the horticultural quality of each of the Royal Parks.

  Visitors

  3. To develop and carry out surveys of visitors to the Royal Parks to identify their views and to develop a basis for setting and publishing targets relating to visitor satisfaction for future years.

  Financial

  4. To introduce charges for car parking in Hyde Park and Regent's Park by September 1993, and to increase by 5 per cent. income from all other sources, except for recharges and VAT refunds.

  Citizen's Charter

  5. To complete the implmentation of the Citizen's Charter in the Royal Parks. In particular, to publish a Charter standard statement, by the end of November, setting out quantifiable levels of customer service and to report regularly and publicly on performance against these standards.

  Efficiency

  6. To make efficiency savings of 1·5 per cent. on running costs.

  7. To finalise an Information Technology strategy for the Agency, agree a phased programme for implementation and commence implementation in accordance with the programme.

  Market Testing

  8. To complete the market testing of the management of the works programme by June 1993, and to prepare a report to Ministers, by December 1993, on what further scope there is in the Agency for market testing work.

  The chief executive, Mr. David Welch, will be directly accountable to me for the performance of the Royal Parks Agency. An independent advisory group will advise me on the agency's strategy and performance.

  Bletchley Park
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what grounds he has refused to add Bletchley park and the historic huts sited in its grounds to the statutory list; and if he will make a statement.
  355
  Mr. Key
  My decision not to list the huts at Bletchley park was based on advice from English Heritage, my statutory professional advisers.

  The great historical importance of the events which took place at Bletchley park is fully appreciated, but English Heritage's advice is that the huts are of no architectural significance in themselves and do not illustrate the events that took place there. No original machines or other fixtures survive.

  Bletchley park house, the headquarters building of the operational centre, is a listed building; and the whole of the site has been designated a conservation area. This means that demolition of any of the huts would require consent from the local planning authority.

TRANSPORT

  Congestion Charging Technology
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the review of congestion charging technology commissioned by his Department as part of the London congestion charging research programme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am pleased to announce that this report, produced by the university of Newcastle upon Tyne, was published yesterday. It describes the main technical options and provides an initial assessment. Copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 29 March,Official Report, column 5.

  Regional Air Services
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those United Kingdom regions that satisfy the criteria under article 9 of the EC Council Regulation No. 95/93 allowing slots at major airports to be reserved for regional air services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  There are no plans to apply the provisions of article 9, and consequently no assessment has been made of which regions, if any, would meet the criteria specified in the article.

  Air Charter Services
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those countries which operate controls on the number of charter services operating from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norris
  From the information available to us, a number of countries place restrictions on the number of charter services operating from the United Kingdom.
  356
  Canada and Australia limit the number of airports which may be served in their territory. Cyprus and to a lesser extent Malta limit the airports in the United Kingdom from which charters may operate. Iceland, Israel and Russia tend not to allow charter services to operate on routes which are already served by a scheduled service.

  Car Immobilisers
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce legislation making it obligatory for motor car manufacturers to make car immobilisation devices standard features; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There is a legal requirement under the Type Approval (Great Britain) Regulations 1984 for cars to be fitted with an immobilising device. This normally is a steering column lock acting as an electrical and a mechanical immobiliser. Car thieves have, however, found ways of defeating such devices made to current legal standards and some manufacturers are fitting more sophisticated devices. We are also working with our EC partners to improve the legal standards for immobilisers.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many first registrations were handled by the DVLA for 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  DVLA handles the first registration of all vehicles in Great Britain. The information requested is as follows:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  January

  256,550

  188,430

  150,627

  February

  200,750

  146,148

  142,183

  March

  193,385

  146,751

  143,290

  April

  217,345

  199,569

  169,824

  May

  228,331

  141,076

  148,494

  June

  190,645

  137,605

  152,987

  July

  117,109

  98,825

  115,559

  August

  382,829

  300,698

  307,375

  September

  226,536

  204,270

  185,437

  October

  207,341

  148,461

  137,795

  November

  139,734

  126,352

  129,778

  December

  87,436

  84,496

  107,834

  Totals

  2,447,991

  1,922,681

  1,891,183

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the DVLA has, in bidding for the register of seamen and shipping, to move the work to Swansea.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The invitations to tender for the services provided by the register of shipping and seamen have yet to be issued. If the DVLA is invited to tender and a decision is taken to bid for the work, all the associated issues will be fully addressed in the agency's tender document.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which parliamentary constituency each DVLA office is situated.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The information requested is as follows:
  357

  Office

  Parliamentary constituency

  Aberdeen

  Aberdeen, South

  Bangor

  Conwy

  Birmingham

  Birmingham, Ladywood

  Bounemouth

  Bournemouth, West

  Brighton

  Brighton, Pavilion

  Bristol1

  Northavon

  Cardiff

  Cardiff, North

  Carlisle

  Penrith and The Border

  Chelmsford

  Chelmsford

  Chester

  City of Chester

  Coventry

  Coventry, South East

  Croydon

  Croydon, South

  Dudley

  Dudley, East

  Dundee

  Dundee, West

  Edinburgh1

  Edinburgh, Pentlands

  Exeter

  Exeter

  Glasgow

  Glasgow, Hillhead

  Gloucester

  Gloucestershire, West

  Guildford

  Guildford

  Haverfordwest

  Pembroke

  Huddersfield

  Huddersfield

  Hull

  Hull, West

  Ilford

  Ilford, South

  Inverness

  Inverness

  Ipswich

  Ipswich

  Leeds

  Leeds, Central

  Leicester

  Leicester, South

  Lincoln

  Lincoln

  Liverpool

  Liverpool, Riverside

  London Central

  Southwark and Bermondsey

  London Enforcement Office1 (Great Marlborough Street)

  City of London and Westminster, South

  London Enforcement Office—Sidcup

  Old Bexley and Sidcup

  Luton

  Luton, South

  Maidstone

  Maidstone

  Manchester1

  Stretford

  Middlesborough

  Middlesborough

  Newcastle

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North

  Northampton

  Northampton, South

  Norwich

  Norwich, South

  Nottingham1

  Nottingham, South

  Oxford

  Oxford, West and Abingdon

  Peterborough

  Peterborough

  Portsmouth

  Portsmouth, South

  Preston

  Preston

  Reading1

  Reading, East

  Sheffield

  Sheffield, Central

  Shrewsbury

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Sidcup

  Old Bexley and Sidcup

  Stanmore

  Harrow, East

  Stoke

  Stoke-on-Trent, Central

  Swansea2

  Swansea, East

  Swindon

  Swindon

  Taunton

  Taunton

  Truro

  Truro and St. Austell

  Worcester

  Worcester

  1 Including area office.

  2 DVLC and VRO.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list, for each year that the agency has existed, the income generated by the DVLA. the numbers of staff by grace in the driver and vaehicle licensing centre, Swansea, and the numbers of staff by grade in the agency outside Swansea;

  (2) what proportion of the DVLA's income has gone to the Treasury in each year since its establishment.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The total revenue and other income collected by the DVLA in the two complete financial years since it became an agency was:
  358

  1990–91

  1991–92

  £'000

  £'000

  (i) Vehicle Excise Duty (net of refunds) passed to the Consolidated Fund

  2,930,361

  2,930,645

  (ii) Fees and other Receipts passed to the Consolidated Fund

  48,799

  68,438

  (iii) Receipts Appropriated to the DVLA

  16,082

  21,142

  The average staff in post during those years, by grade, was:

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Grade

  Based at Swansea

  Based outside Swansea

  Based at Swansea

  Based outside Swansea

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  Grade 5

  4·5

  4

  Medical officer

  7

  6·5

  Grade 6

  4

  4

  Grade 7

  21·5

  21

  SEO

  37

  7

  37·5

  7

  HEO

  108

  56·5

  106·5

  56

  EO

  256·5

  175

  261

  171

  AO

  810·5

  866

  815

  872·5

  AA

  1,740

  326

  1,629·5

  295·5

  Casuals

  58

  85

  38·5

  46·5

  Other grades

  347

  64·5

  323

  67

  TOTALS1

  3,395·0

  1,580·0

  3,247·5

  1,515·5

  1 Excludes staff employed in the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Information Technology agency.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those areas of work that the DVLA intends to bid for, or is at present bidding for, following the changes in the framework document.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The DVLA framework document came into force on 2 April 1990 and has not been subject to revision. In order to spread overheads and improve efficiency the agency's policy is to explore opportunities to enhance and expand the range of services provided in the light of the wishes of customers and in keeping with Government policy. Details of the DVLA's current bids for work are classified as commercial in confidence.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many females are employed in the DVLC, Swansea.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  At the end of March 1993 there were a total of 2,448 females employed in the DVLC, Swansea of whom 496 were part-time or job-sharing employees. This total represents just over 70 per cent. of the Swansea work force.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on taking forward road schemes using design and build contracts.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The success of the trial schemes at Thetford and Yellowham has encouraged us to move on to
  359
  bigger projects and I am pleased to announce that four more schemes are to be taken forward this way. My hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic has today announced the decision to go ahead with the A45 Stonebridge improvement scheme to the east of Birmingham. The aim is to seek tenders for this £10 million scheme in May and to start work early next year.

  Also in the spring of next year, and subject of course to completion of statutory processes, we propose to initiate our largest design and build scheme to date. The £85 million widening of the M25, within highway boundaries, to dual four lanes between junctions 8 and 10 will provide contractors with ample opportunity to demonstrate their skills to build this 14-mile length of road with minimum disruption to users of the motorway.

  We intend appointing a contractor to design and build replacement viaducts at the A38 Marsh Mills interchange in Plymouth. Our aim is to select a contractor later this year with a view to work starting in early 1994.

  We are preparing also a contract to trial design and build on a major maintenance scheme for M25 between junctions 2 and 3. We expect to invite tenders in May with a view to an award of contract in August.

  This package of schemes illustrates the Government's commitment to reducing congestion on our roads by harnessing the initiative of contractors to secure the most up-to-date and cost-effective methods. The taxpayer will also benefit from greater certainty over timing and cost.

  Railway Pension Schemes
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake to conduct a ballot of railway pensioners before imposing any revised scheme for the management of their pension fund.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for the trustees, trade unions, pensioners' bodies and individuals to make representations on the basis of the consultative document "Railway Pensions after Privatisation". They have done so extensively.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received on the future of railway pension schemes in response to his consultation document.

  Mr. Freeman
  In addition to representations from the British Railways Board, the British Rail Pension Trustee Company Limited and the railway trade unions, we have received responses from many other interested organisations, and numerous individual railway employees and pensioners. We are analysing these responses.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to revise the options offered to existing railway pensioners, as defined in paragraph 37 of his consultation document.

  Mr. Freeman
  As I informed Standing Committee B on 23 March, the Government aim to make decisions by the Report stage of the Railways Bill.

  Rail Transport
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects British Rail to issue a revised edition of its conditions of carriage as promised by the passengers charter.
  360
  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the revised conditions are about to be published and will come into effect on 17 May, along with the summer timetable.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Trees
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the report by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre on threats of extinction to tree species.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This report was produced in February 1991 by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre under contract to the International Tropical Timber Organisation and paid for by the Government of Japan. We have no plans to publish it.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to 7 and overall in the Privy Council Office are(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled people.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council has no staff at grades 1 or 2. At grades 3 to 7 it has five staff, one of whom is a woman—grade 7—and none of whom are from ethnic minorities or disabled. Overall, 50 per cent. of current Privy Council staff are women, and 6 per cent. are from ethnic minorities. None is disabled.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Privy Council Office last conducted surveys of(a) ethnic origins and (b) the number of women among its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Given the size of the office—32 staff—such surveys are inappropriate.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at the Privy Council Office.

  Mr. Newton
  Senior posts in the Privy Council Office are filled from within the civil service, often by staff on loan. Such direct recruitment as occurs is conducted in accordance with the relevant equal opportunities code of practice.

HEALTH

  Psychogeriatric Care Beds
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many psychogeriatric continuing care beds are funded by the NHS in the independent sector in each district health authority;

  (2) if she will publish tables indicating the number of (a) geriatric and (b) psychogeriatric continuing care beds

  361
  available (i) currently, (ii) in 1990, (iii) in 1985 and (iv) in 1980 in each district health authority; and if she will also provide figures of the number of beds per 1,000 of the population aged over 65 years in each district health authority at each of these dates.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information collected centrally does not separately identify continuing care beds.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's guidance to health authorities on the number of psychogeriatric continuing care beds per thousand population aged over 65 years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  District health authorities, are responsible for assessing the needs of their residents and for securing a comprehensive range of services—including psychiatric services—to meet those needs within available resources.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had since 1989 with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians on the number of psychogeriatric continuing care beds per thousand population aged over 65 years in each health authority area.

  Mr. Yeo
  None.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of community health councils in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The annual expenditure on community health councils since 1986–87 has been:

  £ million

  1986–87

  7·2

  1987–88

  7·5

  1988–89

  8·0

  1989–90

  8·6

  1990–91

  9·6

  Prescriptions
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of prescriptions for NHS drugs issued in each year since 1982; what is the total cost of the NHS drugs bill relative to the most recent available year's costs in each year since 1982.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table.

  Family Health Service in England: numbers of prescribed items dispensed and drugs bill expenditure 1982–83 to 1991–92.

  Year

  Number of prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors millions

  Drugs bill expenditure as a percentage of drugs bill expenditure in 1991–921

  1982–83

  332·3

  43·55

  1983–84

  336·9

  48·77

  1984–85

  345·1

  51·45

  1985–86

  341·2

  55·03

  362

  Year

  Number of prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors millions

  Drugs bill expenditure as a percentage of drugs bill expenditure in 1991–921

  1986–87

  346·4

  59·57

  1987–88

  361·9

  66·29

  1988–89

  376·9

  75·27

  1989–90

  385·5

  83·82

  1990–91

  396·6

  89·77

  1991–92

  415·2

  100·00

  1 1991–92 = 100 per cent.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people would be exempt from prescription charges if the same exemption limits were to apply as are used for free eye tests; and what estimate has been made of the financial consequences of such change.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is estimated that such a change might reduce the number of people entitled to free prescriptions to about 20 million and reduce the need for voted provision for the national health service by between £700 million and £800 million a year.

  Ophthalmic Services (Children)
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the joint working party of the British Paediatric Association and the College of Ophthalmologists looking at the ophthalmic services for children was reconvened; what progress it has made so far; and when it is likely to report.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The first meeting took place on 2 March. I understand that at least two further meetings are planned between now and September to conduct a thorough review of the previous working party's 1984 report. The working party hopes to complete its work by the autumn.

  Hospitals (Charging)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries in the European Community charge patients for staying in hospital.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In the state health care sector, hospital in-patients may be liable for charges in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Italy and the Irish Republic. Details are given in leaflet T4, "Health Advice for Travellers", copies of which are available in post offices and in the Library.

  HIB Meningitis Vaccine
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children suffered a reaction to the HIB meningitis vaccine in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1 October 1992, when Haemophilus Influenzae b (HiB) vaccine was introduced in the United Kingdom, more than 4 million doses have been distributed.

  So far, 807 reports of adverse events have been submitted under the yellow card scheme to the Committee

  363
  on Safety of Medicines—a rate of 20 per 100,000 doses, which is similar to those routinely reported after immunization with other childhood vaccines. As most HiB immunisations have been given at the same time as either diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis or measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, reactions other than those at the actual injection-site could not with certainty be associated with the HiB immunisation.

  Reports of adverse events after HiB immunisation are being kept under careful scrutiny.

  Mentally III People (Homicides and Suicides)
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made for the funding of the confidential inquiry into homicides and suicides by mentally ill people after April.

  Mr. Yeo
  Central funding for the inquiry will continue in 1993–94, subject to a satisfactory progress report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

  Special Hospitals (Noise and Nuisance)
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory rights patients in special hospitals have to protect themselves from noise and nuisance generated by machinery being utilised by the hospital authorities or their agents.

  Mr. Yeo
  National health service patients, including those in special hospitals, have the same rights to protection against noise as the public generally under health and safety and environmental protection legislation. Crown immunity was removed from health authorities in 1991 and this legislation is now fully enforceable in hospitals by the local statutory enforcement body.

  Ambulance Service
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines she has on the minimum manning requirements for holiday and sickness cover in the ambulance service;

  (2) what are the recommended and actual manning levels for each of the ambulance services in England and Wales.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no recommended manning levels. Individual ambulance services determine how many staff they need to meet the standards set by service purchasers.

  Romanian Adoption Committee
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions were drawn from the recent visit by Department of Health officials to Romania concerning the work of the Romanian Adoption Committee; and if she will make a statement on the relevant statistics for recent numbers of adoptions.

  Mr. Yeo
  Department of Health officials visited Romania from 3 to 10 February and met representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Committee for Adoptions and others. The Romanian law on adoption identifies domestic adoption as the first option; in 1992 there were 2,460 domestic adoptions. They are opposed to institutionalised 364
  care as a long-term solution to children's needs and recognise the role that inter-country adoption can play in avoiding this. They are concerned at the number of cases where children have been taken from the country without approval and are anxious to prevent this. To this end, they are determined to work only with those countries signing formal agreements. There have been 10 adoptions by British parents since the agreement was signed, three under the agreement and seven transitional cases.

  Baxter Healthcare Ltd.
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on products manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Ltd. for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information provided to the Department under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme by individual companies is treated as commercial-in-confidence.

  Children's Hospices
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution her Department makes to the Francis House children's hospice; how many children from Liverpool were cared for by the hospice during the past 12 months; what other provision of children's hospices is available in the north-west; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department is not contributing to the funding of Francis House. Sixteen children from the Mersey region have been cared for at the hospice, which at present is the only children's hospice serving the north-west.

  Children's hospices are eligible to apply for funding from the top-sliced allocation of £32·3 million for specialised palliative care for the terminally ill, although it will be for health authorities to decide the allocation of these funds in accordance with local priorities.

  Alcohol (Advertising)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been made on the issue of introducing health warnings on advertisements for alcoholic beverages; and what plans she has to introduce such measures.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Alcohol advertising is regulated by codes of practice administered by the advertising industry's self-regulated bodies. Alcohol Concern has made representations on the introduction of health warnings. There are, however, no current plans to do so.

  District Health Authority Chairmen
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names of those people appointed to be chairmen of district health authorities with effect from 1 April.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have today placed in the Library a list of those people appointed as chairmen of district health authorities with effect from 1 April 1993.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the key business targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1993–94.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have today placed a copy of the 1993–94 key business targets for the Medicines Control Agency in the Library.

  Family Health Services Authorities
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) formal complaints were dealt with, (b) service committee meetings were held and (c) practitioners were found in breach of their terms of service in each family health services authority in London in the last 12 months.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of the family health services authorities concerned for details.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993. The national health service management executive wrote to all NHS directors

  HCHS—Analysis of total salaries and wages—percentage figures

  Financial year

  Medical staff

  Nursing and midwifery staff

  Pharmacists

  Administrative and clerical staff

  All other staff

  Total

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1975–76

  11·6

  40·9

  0·7

  11·6

  35·2

  100·0

  1980–81

  12·3

  43·7

  0·5

  11·5

  32·0

  100·0

  1985–86

  13·7

  45·1

  0·6

  10·7

  29·9

  100·0

  1990–91

  14·1

  46·9

  0·7

  10·6

  27·7

  100·0

  1991–92

  14·5

  46·0

  0·7

  11·0

  27·8

  100·0

  Source: Annual accounts (1985–86 and 1990–91) and annual financial returns (1991–92) of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. Annual accounts of area health and other predecessor authorities (1975–76 and 1980–81). Annual financial returns of the first wave NHS trusts (1991–92).

  Notes:

  1. HCHS covers the total expenditure by the health authorities (and the NHS trusts) including hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services.

  2. The figures are based upon gross pay, including employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions.

  3. The figures for "all other star include dental, ambulance, maintenance and professional and technical staff together with all categories of non-NHS (agency, etc.) staff. Those for 1985–86 and later years include general and senior managers.

  4. Nursing staff re-gradings and changes in the format of the annual accounts and financial returns over the period do not enable the provision of consistent and separate data for nursing auxiliaries or midwives.

  5. The table excludes salaries and wages incurred by family health services authorities and special health authorities providing central services to the NHS. However, the 1975–76 and 1980–81 figures for administrative and clerical staff cover those staff employed by family practitioner committees whose costs were included with those of area health authorities and were not separately identified.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken in the calculation of the special transitional grant for community care of the financial 366
  of finance on 14 January inviting them to take full advantage of this initiative. A copy of the letter is available in the Library. Ministers and officials have encouraged private sector companies and NHS trusts and health authorities to explore the scope for using private finance to improve and extend NHS services in cost-effective ways. In the next three months Ministers will address a number of conferences on the use of private finance in the NHS. Officials have met finance directors of many NHS trusts to discuss the private finance initiative.

  Portable Oxygen Cylinders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received in relation to the supply of portable oxygen cylinders on prescription or via NHS consultants' recommendation; what guidelines she has issued to health authorities in relation to portable oxygen cylinders; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We have received a number of representations on this matter. There are no plans to allow general practitioners to prescribe portable oxygen cylinders. Hospital consultants will continue to have authority to do so.

  NHS Salaries
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the total national health service salary bill was spent on salaries for doctors, nurses, midwives, nursing auxiliaries, pharmacists and administrators in 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1992.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 8 March 1993]: Percentage figures based on analyses of annual total salaries and wages costs for hospital and community health services—HCHS—in England, are shown in the table. The figures for 1991–92 are provisional.

  implications for local authorities of the policy of curtailing payments of residential allowances to care home residents when the resident concerned is away from the care home for more than six days.
  367
  Mr. Yeo
  No specific account was taken in the calculation of the social security transfer element of the special transitional grant. Data on the numbers likely to be affected are not available. Following a number of representations from hon. Members and other interested parties, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is currently giving careful consideration to all the implications.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of extending value added tax to domestic fuel on pensioners in the west midlands.

  Mr. Nelson
  In reaching his Budget decision to extend VAT to supplies of domestic fuel and power, my right hon. Friend took careful account of the impact on all sectors of society. That is why he explained his Budget speech that extra help will be given to poorer pensioners and others on low incomes.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated reduction in domestic fuel consumption as a result of levying VAT at(a) 8 per cent. and (b) 17½ per cent.; and what is the amount of revenue forgone in VAT receipts on fuel as a result of that reduction.

  Sir John Cope
  Value added tax at 8 per cent. is expected to reduce demand for domestic fuel and power, in volume terms, by around 12 per cent. in the short run; VAT at 17½ per cent. by around 3 per cent. in the short run.

  In 1993–94 terms, the full year effect of this fall in demand on VAT receipts from domestic fuel and power is estimated to be around £15 million for an 8 per cent. rate of VAT, and around £70 million for a 17½ per cent. rate of VAT.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue obtained from levying VAT at(a) 8 per cent. and (b) 17½ per cent. on domestic fuel if there were to be no reduction in consumption.

  Sir John Cope
  Table 4.1 in chapter 4 of the 1993–94 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" provides an estimate of the direct revenue effects from introducing VAT on domestic fuel and power. Had we assumed no change in demand for fuel and power resulting from the measure the estimated revenue effects would have been around £15 million less in 1994–95 and around £5 million less in 1995–96. This takes account of the impact that a lower elasticity would have on demand for other taxable goods.

  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many member states of the EC have failed to take the necessary measures to implement the abolition of valued added tax collection on goods crossing frontiers.

  Sir John Cope
  All EC member states have reported that they have implemented the provisions under the sixth VAT directive for the accounting of VAT on intra-Community movements of goods on acquisition.
  368
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations and objections he has received about his proposal to extend the value added tax base announced in his Budget.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on the subject.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were value added tax revenues in 1979 and 1992 expressed as a percentage of total indirect and direct tax revenues for those years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  12·9 and 19·7 per cent. respectively.

  Charities
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the overall impact of the Budget on charities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Budget recognised the important position of charities in our national life through the provision of special reliefs. The minimum donation limit under gift aid was lowered from £400 to £250. This will cost £30 million in a full year. The maximum limit for qualifying donations under the payroll giving scheme was raised from £600 to £900 a year at a cost of at least £1 million a year. Special payments for charities were also announced to ease the transition to the new system of tax credits. These payments will cost over £100 million over the four years of the scheme.

  Charities will be affected by the increases in excise duties announced in the Budget, and by the extension of VAT to fuel and power used in domestic residential and charity buildings. The Charities' Tax Reform Group estimates that this will cost its members some £27 million in a full year.

  Charities with non-domestic premises will benefit from the freezing of real increases in business rates. Charities will also benefit from the decision by the Chancellor to leave charity lotteries untaxed.

  Budget
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the Budget.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Budget has been welcomed by many business organisations and individual businesses.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the proposed changes to the threshold for stamp duty on houses, land and property.

  Mr. Nelson
  The increase in the stamp duty threshold has been widely welcomed.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of his policies will stimulate economic growth and reduce unemployment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government's economic policies are directed to achieving low inflation and sound public
  369
  finances, while making markets work better and improving the supply performance of the economy. These are the best means of promoting sustainable economic growth and reducing unemployment.

  Taxation (Unemployed People)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average direct and indirect tax burden on a single person in receipt of unemployment benefit.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not available.

  Economic Advisers
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed as economic advisers to the Treasury.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Treasury currently employs 34 full-time and three part-time economic advisers.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for sterling in the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Nelson
  We have made it clear that we intend to rejoin the ERM, but not before a number of important conditions have been satisfied.

  Investment and Unemployment
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relationship between the Budget measures for investment and unemployment levels.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Budget measures provide further help for business arid the unemployed in the early stages of recovery. Together with the autumn statement measures, the improvement in competitiveness from sterling's depreciation, and the recent cuts in interest rates., they provide an excellent environment for investment and exports.

  The Government's commitment to sound public finances and low inflation provides a firm foundation for sustainable growth and the lasting creation of new jobs in the medium term.

  Exports
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the likely level of exports will be by the end of 1993 on present trends; and what was the comparable figure for 1992.

  Mr. Portillo
  In 1992, the value of non-oil exports was £100 billion. In 1993 I expect them to be over £114 billion, a rise of over 14 per cent.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement about the measures announced in the Budget to assist the growth of exports.

  Mr. Lamont
  I have responded to requests for support from exporters by cutting export credit premiums and extending the cover available in key markets by £1,300 million over the next three years.
  370
  This increase is in addition to the extra £500 million of cover for 1993–94 which I announced in the autumn statement, and means that by 1995–96 the annual allocation of cover will have risen by 75 per cent. since 1991–92. Particular attention will be paid to countries where the prospects for British exports are good, for example Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, South Africa and Malaysia.

  For 1993–94, the premiums paid by exporters will be cut by 7½ per cent. on average, compared with the previous year, when premiums were also cut. Average premiums will be over 25 per cent. lower in 1993–94 than in 1991–92.

  More generally, exporters will benefit from the cuts in the tax burden on business, such as the reduction in advance corporation tax, improved VAT relief for bad debts and lower rates bills. Small businesses will also benefit from other measures such as the extension of the loan guarantee scheme and changes to VAT and capital gains tax.

  Socially Useful Products
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received since his Budget calling for a review of the list of products classed as socially useful for value added tax purposes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have received a number of representations on VAT. However, there is no such list of products classed as "socially useful for value added tax purposes".

  Demand
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the level of total demand in the economy.

  Mr. Portillo
  Real domestic demand rose by 0·5 per cent. between 1991 and 1992. The Budget forecast is for it to increase by 1¼ per cent. in 1993 and 3 per cent. in the year to the first half of 1994. These forecasts are within the range of forecasts produced by the Panel of Independent Forecasters and other outside forecasters.

  Bad Debts and Late Payments
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reaction he has received from small businesses to his announcement about value added tax in relation to bad debts and late payments.

  Mr. Nelson
  I am pleased to say that the significant improvements announced in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget speech have been well received by small businesses.

  Alcoholic Drinks
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to achieve harmonisation of duty on alcoholic drinks with other EC countries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government do not accept that harmonisation of duty rates is necessary.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at Her Majesty's Treasury.
  371
  Sir John Cope
  Recruits to the senior grades—as to any grade in the civil service—are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, unless one of the exceptions permitted under the Civil Service Order in Council 1991 applies. Various steps have been taken by the Civil Service Commissioners to aid, recruitment from all sectors of the community including extending links with institutions of higher education; equal opportunities training for those involved in selection; using validated selection procedures.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Her Majesty's Treasury last conducted surveys of(a) the ethnic origins and (b) women among its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  The Treasury last surveyed staff for whom no record of ethnic origin was held in October 1990. A further survey will be conducted in April 1993.

  /

  (a) Women

  (b) Ethnic minorities

  (c) Registered Disabled

  Grade

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  1 and 1A

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  6

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  12

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  51

  22

  4

  2

  —

  —

  All staff

  782

  43

  149

  7

  20

  1

  Property Owners
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ease the financial situation of property owners whose mortgages exceed the value of their property; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  On 20 October 1992,Official Report, column 243, I announced two measures to help property owners whose mortgages exceed the value of their property. Further details of one of these measures—allowing the security of a new property to be substituted for the previous one without loss of mortgage interest relief—were announced in the Budget and the measure took effect on 16 March.

  Alternative Economic Indicators
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been undertaken by his Department into the use of(a) the United Nations' Development Programme's human development index, (b) the Overseas Development Council's physical quality of life indicator and (c) Norway's natural resource accounting as alternative economic indicators; and what plans he has to amend economic indicators currently employed by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government monitor progress in the development of such economic indicators, but have not themselves commissioned research in the field, and accordingly have no plans to amend the economic indicators currently in use in the United Kingdom.
  372
  Monitoring information on the numbers and grades of women in the Treasury is produced each month. Latest available figures relate to March 1993.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to 7 and overall in Her Majesty's Treasury are(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled people.

  Sir John Cope
  The information requested is shown in the table. Figures include those staff on loan outside the Department. Figures for grades 1 to 7 reflect the position as at March 1993. Figures for all staff are for(a) as at March 1993; for (b) and (c) as at 1 January 1993, the latest date for which this information is available. Figures are available only for those staff who are registered as disabled, but the Department does employ a number of people with disabilities who have chosen not to register.

  Employees (Religious Affiliation)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the board of Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is estimated that the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of employees of the board of the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland is £3,500 based on figures for 1992–93. We are required to undertake monitoring under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, but this monitoring also helps us to assess the effectivenes of our equal opportunities policy.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

  Sir John Cope
  It is estimated that the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise is £2,800, based on figures for 1992–93. The monitoring enables us to comply with our legal obligations under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 and to assess the effectiveness of our equal opportunity policies.

  Companies (Losses)
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects agreement in the EC to allow parent companies to assume their subsidiaries' losses in other EC countries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1990, the Commission proposed a directive concerning arrangements for the taking into account by enterprises of the losses of their permanent
  373
  establishments and subsidiaries situated in other member states. This is being considered by a Council working party. Most member states, including the United Kingdom, have major difficulties with the proposals in their current form.

  Banking
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many banks and other financial institutions the Bank of England supported(a) directly and (b) indirectly through other banks and financial institutions in (i) 1990, (ii) 1991 and (iii) 1992.

  Mr. Nelson
  It is for the Bank of England to determine its policy on answering questions concerning such matters. The Bank issued a statement last week describing its role during a period following the middle of 1991 in arranging support for a few small banks. A copy of the statement was placed in the Library.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much of the support provided to authorised financial institutions by the Bank of England in 1991 remains outstanding and due to the Bank of England or other institutions;

  (2) whether the Bank of England provided guarantees to any other bank or financial institution in respect of support operations designed to assist authorised banking institutions during the course of 1991;

  (3) what was the value of the support provided (a) directly and (b) indirectly to authorised banking institutions by the Bank of England in 1991; and what was the source of that support;

  (4) whether the Bank of England provided support arrangements in 1991 for any authorised banking institution that was not incorporated in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nelson
  It is for the Bank of England to determine its policy on answering questions concerning such matters.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the support operations by the Bank of England in respect of authorised banking institutions.

  Mr. Nelson
  No.

  Pools Betting Levy
  Mr. Pike
  T o ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter the present situation in relation to the pools betting levy in relation to funding for implementation of the Taylor committee report via the Football Trust; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Cope
  In the 1990 Budget pool betting duty was reduced from 42·5 to 40 per cent. for five years to help finance the implementation of the Taylor report and in particular the achievement of all-seating. We have since made it clear that we will be prepared to extend the reduction to the year 2000, provided the Football Leagues and football clubs produce satisfactory financial plans for their own contribution to further necessary ground improvements. We are currently awaiting reports on the clubs' plans.

  Tax Payments
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effective date of payment will be allowed when payment of tax to the Inland Revenue is made by electronic funds transfer.

  Mr. Dorrell
  From today, where a payment of tax is made by electronic funds transfer, an effective date of payment of the tax of one working day immediately before the date value is received by the Inland Revenue will be allowed.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Lamont
  The potential scope of the initiative will vary between Departments. Further to my earlier reply to my right hon. Friend on this subject, 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 377, my Department will consider the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by he Treasury on 9 December and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993—whenever the opportunity arises.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pages of evidence Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has given to the Scott inquiry.

  Mr. Portillo
  About 11,200.

  Domestic Fuel
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures for estimated domestic fuel expenditure by households on(a) average and (b) 50 per cent. of average incomes, giving figures separately for expenditure on (i) oil, (ii) piped gas, (iii) cylinder gas, (iv) electricity and (v) coal.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 26 March 1993]: The following estimates are derived from the 1991 family expenditure survey. The estimates are based on samples of 200 households grouped at each level of income. Because of the small sample size the figures are subject to considerable sampling variations. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10p.

  Per week

  Average income

  50 per cent. of average income

  £

  £

  i. Oil

  0·30

  0·20

  ii. Piped gas

  5·10

  4·00

  iii. Cylinder gas and other fuels1

  0·30

  0·10

  iv. Electricity

  6·20

  6·40

  v. Coal and coke

  0·20

  0·80

  1 Includes calor gas plus paraffin, firelighters, firewood, gas refills for blow lamps/camping stoves, underfloor heating where source of heat is unknown and services for fuel included in rent.

  Income Tax Cuts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, columns 129–30, if he will estimate the number of taxpayers who have benefited from the reduction in personal income tax introduced by the Finance Act 1988 in each region in each year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 30 March 1993]: Information is given in the table.

  Number of taxpayers benefiting from abolition of rates in excess of 40 per cent, (thousands)

  Region of residence of taxpayer

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–912

  North

  20

  20

  30

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50

  60

  80

  North West

  60

  80

  90

  376

  Region of residence of taxpayer

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–912

  East Midlands

  40

  60

  60

  West Midlands

  60

  60

  80

  East Anglia

  30

  30

  50

  South East

  490

  530

  630

  South West

  70

  60

  80

  Wales

  20

  30

  30

  Scotland

  50

  70

  80

  Northern Ireland

  10

  10

  20

  United Kingdom1

  930

  1,030

  1,240

  1 Includes members of the forces and Merchant Navy and a small number of civil servants serving overseas who are not allocated to regions.

  2 For 1990–91 the figures relate to the number of taxpaying individuals following the introduction of independent taxation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Regional Government
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards regional government for England.

  The Prime Minister
  We see no case for setting up regional authorities in England. Our aim is to simplify and streamline local government, not to impose an additional layer of bureaucracy on local taxpayers.

  Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has visited Liverpool since he became Prime Minister.

  The Prime Minister
  I have visited the north-west on a number of occasions since becoming Prime Minister.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 April.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 April.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  European Court
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 283, what was the average length of time that elapsed between the European Court of Justice finding that Her Majesty's Government were in breach of its obligations under EC directives and the necessary steps being taken to rectify matters; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 31 March 1993]: Four cases were referred to in my previous reply in which the United Kingdom was held by the European Court of Justice to be in breach of EC directives. Three of these cases required legislative action to give full effect to the judgment of the Court; this took between six and 14 months to complete. In the fourth case, concerning a breach of directive 80/788—drinking water—when judgment was delivered on 25 November 1992 the UK had already complied on two of the points on which it was found to be in breach. Action on the remaining two points is in hand.

  Prime Minister's Office
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will give figures for(a) the number of staff and (b) the cost of the Prime Minister's office for each year since 1979;

  (2) why the cost and size of the Prime Minister's office are not separately identified in Cm 2218 the "Government's Expenditure Plans, 1993–94 to 1995–96"; and if he will provide figures for its cost and size.

  The Prime Minister
  It has not been the general practice to identify the cost of Ministers' offices 378
  separately in departmental reports. The cost and size of my office are freely available in the form of parliamentary answers. The information for each year since 1979–80 is as follows:

  Staffs1

  Cost2 3

  (£'000)

  1979–80

  68

  1,409

  1980–81

  68

  1,745

  1981–82

  70

  2,415

  1982–83

  64

  2,700

  1983–84

  66

  3,026

  1984–85

  67

  3,787

  1985–86

  66

  4,406

  1986–87

  66

  4,963

  1987–88

  67

  5,418

  1988–89

  67

  6,554

  1989–90

  68

  7,669

  1990–91

  71

  8,226

  1991–92

  73

  8,664

  1992–93

  95

  49,136

  1 The staffing levels relate to the beginning of each financial year. For the years 1979 to 1989 the figures relate to the number of actual staff employed in No. 10. From 1990 onwards the figures are on the basis of staff in post (ie expressed in terms of full time equivalents). It should be noted that the increase in staff numbers from 1 April 1992 is due to the transfer of office service support grades, already working in No. 10, to the No. 10 complement from the Cabinet Office establishment officer's group.

  2 The monetary figures represent the cost of 10 Downing Street and Chequers borne on the Votes of the Cabinet Office (OPSS) and its predecessors. Over the period, the following changes have occurred to the basis of the costs:

  in 1981–82 the Ministry of Defence introduced charges for the use of its aircraft;

  in 1983–84 the then Property Services Agency introduced charges for buildings and services;

  in 1984–85 charges were introduced for the Government Car Service and the Service Personnel at Chequers; and

  in 1986–87 the cost of office services was included for the first time.

  3 Costs are shown in the year in which the expenditure was made. Because of billing delays this is not always in financial year in which the goods or services were provided.

  4 Estimate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Posts
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 March,Official Report, columns 593–94, how many staff are employed by each other member state of the European Community in each diplomatic post in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The numbers of overseas-based staff are as follows:

  Country

  Number

  Germany

  London

  131

  Edinburgh

  15

  Manchester

  10

  Total

  156

  Greece

  London

  68

  Total

  68

  379

  Country

  Number

  Irish Republic

  London

  59

  Total

  59

  Luxembourg

  London

  2

  Total

  2

  Portugal

  London

  67

  Total

  67

  Belgium

  London

  46

  Birmingham

  3

  Edinburgh

  2

  Total

  51

  Denmark

  London

  26

  Total

  26

  France

  London

  242

  Edinburgh

  18

  Total

  260

  Italy

  London

  149

  Bedford

  5

  Edinburgh

  12

  Manchester

  19

  Total

  185

  Netherlands

  London

  54

  Total

  54

  Spain

  London

  161

  Edinburgh

  7

  Manchester

  12

  Total

  180

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with non-governmental organisations concerning the first preparatory committee meeting of the non-proliferation treaty; what plans his Department has to involve non-governmental organisations in its activities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 15 February at column 33

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.
  380
  Mr. Goodlad
  The potential scope of the initiative will vary between departments. In the case of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, diplomatic wing, we have not so far identified any proposals relevant to the initiative.

  The Commonwealth Development Corporation, for which the Overseas Development Administration is the sponsor department, funds projects in developing countries, particularly in the private sector in partnership with a range of co-investors. The Administration has two arrangements which already associate private finance with aid funds: the joint funding scheme which matches contributions from non-governmental organisations on a pound-for-pound basis, and the aid and trade provision which provides aid funds to recipient Governments in association with commercial funds though these are usually supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  We will continue to look for suitable proposals.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom will be represented at the United Nations conference on human rights to be held in Vienna on 14 to 18 June; who will be in the delegation; what criteria will be used for the selection of United Kingdom delegates; and what guidelines delegates will be given.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We shall be represented at the second world conference on human rights in Vienna, from 14 to 25 June, by a delegation consisting of Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials with expertise in the field of human rights, including the United Kingdom permanent representative to the United Nations at Geneva, and representatives of interested dependent territories. It will be led by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or myself. The aims of the delegation are to promote universal adherence to existing standards, to explore ways to improve their implementation, and to examine the relationship between human rights, democracy and development.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to prepare draft operating regulations and fiscal arrangements in advance of an exclusive licensing round in the Falklands designated area.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  These matters will be given consideration. Further legislation would of course be required for an exclusive licensing round.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preliminary information his Department is providing to oil companies regarding possible operating regulations and fiscal regimes for oil developers in the Falklands development area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The South Atlantic and Antarctic department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a letter on 17 March which set out our expectations on a future licensing round and the fiscal regime which would apply to companies exploiting any hydrocarbons which may be found in the Falklands designated area. It will provide further guidance as appropriate.
  381
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take to encourage oil company participation in the current phase of exploration of the Falklands designated area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The financial participation of oil companies in the seismic surveys now being carried out is a commercial matter. The South Atlantic and Antarctic department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will supplement as appropriate the guidance given in its letter of 17 March to the seismic contractors.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he roposes to announce the opening and closing dates of an exclusive licensing round in the Falklands designated area.

  Mr. Garet-Jones
  The letter of 17 March from the South Atlantic and Antarctic department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to seismic companies said that the licensing round would probably close within two to three years from now. We would expect an announcement of opening and closing dates to be made in due course.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he ntends to respond directly to the Argentine Government in respect of the letter sent by the Argentine Government to oil companies, reasserting a claim to sovereignty of the Falkland islands and surrounding waters.

  Mr. Garet-Jones
  Yes.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Shamrock (GB) Ltd.
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 December,Official Report, columns 215–16, to the right hon. Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler), how many employees at Shamrock (GB) Ltd. have now received training in the wider ethical and legal issues associated with animal use; what communications between the management and the Home Office inspectorate have taken place since 2 December 1992 to agree the nature and context of training; and if he will visit the company to see what progress has been made with the training.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  : A training programme for employees of Shamrock (GB) Ltd. began this week and will be completed within the next three months. The Home Office inspectorate met the management of Shamrock on 3 December 1992, 21 January and 10 March 1993 and the management wrote to the Home Office inspectorate once.

  On 17 March, I visited the company to establish what progress had been accomplished during the 15 weeks since my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler). On 23 March I discussed my findings with Home Office officials. On 24 and 25 March, I sought further advice from individual members of the Animal Procedures Committee. On 26 March, the managing director of Shamrock met me to agree the details of the content and conduct of a comprehensive training programme and of the programme to improve and replace facilities. On 31 March, the first
  382
  training session for all employees was conducted by Mrs. Judy McArthur Clark, president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  Immigration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been issued to immigration offices regarding the scrutiny of applications to remain in Britain on the basis of marriage within the last six months; on what grounds; and to which countries' nationals they apply.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  None.

  Criminal Courts (Videos)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the use in criminal courts in England of video footage filmed from helicopters.

  Mr. Jack
  The admissibility of this type of evidence is a matter for a court to decide in any given case.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My Department is continuing to examine the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested in the published Treasury guidance.

  Nuclear Weapon Transportation
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many national institutions, local authorities and other interested organisations received copies of Home Office circular ES1/1993—"Local Authority and Emergency Service Information on Nuclear Weapon Transportation Contingency Plans"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Home Office circular ES1/1993 was distributed in England and Wales to:

  Chief Executive of County Councils, District Councils and London Borough Councils

  The Town Clerk, City of London

  Clerks to the Fire and Civil Defence Authorities

  Chief Officers of Police

  Chief Fire Officers

  Association of County Councils

  Association of District Councils

  Association of London Authorities

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  London Boroughs Association

  Association of Chief Police Officers

  Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association

  County Emergency Planning Officers Society

  Emergency Planning Association

  Institute of Civil Defence and Disaster Studies

  Society of Industrial Emergency Services Officers

  Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

  The guidance was distributed by the Home Office on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of motor vehicles purchased by the police, by the fire service and by the civil defence authorities were built or assembled in Britain.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The vehicles for these services are all purchased locally. The Home Office does not keep records of the numbers, make, models or country of origin of vehicles purchased by these forces and could obtain such information only at disproportionate cost.

  European Elections (Constituencies)
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 8 February,Official Report, column 424, when the boundary commission was instructed to produce proposals for distributing the additional European Parliament seats; when he expects to receive the proposals; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time available for their implementation before the next European elections.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The boundary commisions has at present no power to undertake a review of boundaries to accommcdate the six additional seats.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he will make for the additional European parliamentary constituencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government are currently formulating proposals for accommodating the six extra seats, and when we have done so we will consult the Opposition parties.

  Unit Fines
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the unit fine system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The operation of the unit fine scheme is being very carefully monitored and we will be considering whether any change is called for in the light of practical experience of its operation.

  Murder by Children
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were found guilty of the murder of another child in each of the last 20 years.

  Mr. Jack
  The number of suspects aged under 16 convicted of murder of a victim aged under 16 for the years 1982–91 is in the table. Information for the years requested before 1982 is not available except at disproportionate cost and information for 1992 is not yet available.

  Year

  Number

  1982

  4

  1983

  2

  1984

  1

  1985

  —

  1986

  1

  1987

  1

  384

  Year

  Number

  1988

  1

  1989

  1

  1990

  —

  1991

  —

  Cricketers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cricketers granted work permits in 1992 by the overseas labour section of the Department of Employment to play cricket in the United Kingdom failed to return to their country of origin on or before the expiry of their work permit; how many such individuals are believed still to be in the United Kingdom; and how many, to date, have been removed from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Cricketers are not identified separately in Department of Employment or Home Office statistics.

  Fire Regulations
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether existing fire regulations are being implemented properly.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is the responsibility of local authorities to implement and enforce fire safety legislation. This includes work carried out under section 1(1)(f) of the Fire Service Act 1947, whereby fire authorities are required to give fire prevention advice, and enforcement of the statutory requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.

  Members of Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate report annually on individual fire brigades. Each report is published and contains detailed information on the performance of the brigade's fire safety department. On the basis of the information contained in these reports, we are content that they are discharging their statutory obligations satisfactorily.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost to British industry of the implementation of existing fire regulations.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Fire safety legislation exists to protect people from the effects of fire. Current statutory requirements are contained in a wide range of national and local legislation, some of which has existed for many years. Figures are not available for the costs of implementing these requirements.

  Intimidation of Witnesses
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has had about cases of intimidation of witnesses in major crime trials; and what proposals he has to combat this intimidation.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government are aware of concern about the intimidation of witnesses in criminal trials and occasionally receives representations both on the general issue and in relation to specific cases. Such intimidation amounts to a serious criminal offence punishable by a
  385
  maximum of life imprisonment. The investigation of alleged offences and, where necessary, the protection of witnesses, are operational matters for the chief officer of the police force concerned.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher) on 28 January at column 789, and to the replies given to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 15 March at columns 41 and 68.

  Prison Service
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change he is making in the status of the Prison Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Prison Service becomes an executive agency of the Home Office with effect from 1 April. Its director general, Derek Lewis, is the chief executive of the agency and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the service.

  I have set the following key targets for 1993–94, which are published in the Prison Service's business plan:

  1. To ensure that the number of escapes from prison establishments and from escorts, expressed as a percentage of the average prison population, is fewer than in 1992–93.

  2. To reverse, over the period of the corporate plan, the rising trend of assaults on staff, prisoners and others, expressed as a percentage of the average prison population.

  3. To ensure that by 31 March 1994 no prisoner is held three to a cell in accommodation which is intended for one prisoner, subject to ensuring that no prisoners are held in police cells unless this is absolutely unavoidable.

  4. To provide 24-hour access to sanitation in at least 4,700 more prison places, excluding new and renovated accommodation, as part of the programme to provide all prisoners with this facility by 31 December 1994.

  5. To ensure that prisoners spend, on average, at least 3 per cent. more hours a week in purposeful activity, resulting in an average of 24·9 hours per week per prisoner.

  6. To ensure that by 31 March 1994 at least 34 per cent. of prisoners are held in establishments where prisoners are unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours on weekdays.

  7. To ensure that by 31 March 1994 at least 90 per cent. of prisoners are held in establishments where prisoners have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement.

  8. To ensure that the average cost per prisoner place does not exceed £23,561.

  I am placing in the Library copies of the Prison Service's framework document, corporate plan, business plan and a statement of citizens charter standards of service.

SCOTLAND

  Craft Funding
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will, following the transfer of responsibility for the Scottish Arts Council to the Scottish Office, consider arranging funding for crafts in Scotland directly with the Scottish Arts Council rather than via the Crafts Council in England.

  Mr. Lang
  I am still considering the respective roles of the Scottish Arts Council and the Crafts Council in providing support to individual craft makers in Scotland and will announce my decision shortly.

  Council House Repairs
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish for each local authority(a) the amount spent on council house repairs and maintenance, (b) the number of council-owned properties and (c) the average spent on repairs and maintenance per council-owned property in the latest available year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested relating to 1991–92 is set out in the table.

  Local authority

  (a)

  1(b)

  (c)

  £

  £

  Berwickshire

  483,359

  2,243

  215·50

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,150,963

  3,669

  313·70

  Roxburgh

  1,483,856

  4,888

  303·57

  Tweeddale

  408,743

  1,337

  305·72

  Clackmannan

  2,419,657

  7,893

  306·56

  Falkirk

  9,241,951

  26,599

  347·45

  Stirling

  2,473,007

  10,474

  236·11

  Annandale and Eskdale

  862,798

  4,454

  193·71

  Nithsdale

  1,885,427

  6,627

  284·51

  Stewartry

  465,268

  2,199

  211·58

  Wigtown

  1,101,823

  3,985

  276·49

  Dunfermline

  6,425,326

  16,961

  378·83

  Kirkcaldy

  7,526,942

  20,635

  364·77

  North East Fife

  2,657,892

  5,700

  466·30

  Aberdeen

  12,837,155

  35,023

  366·53

  Banff and Buchan

  3,072,135

  10,651

  288·44

  Gordon

  1,081,276

  5,425

  199·31

  Kincardine and Deeside

  556,932

  3,532

  157·68

  Moray

  2,954,003

  9,190

  321·44

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  140,026

  982

  142·59

  Caithness

  1,087,148

  3,673

  295·98

  Inverness

  2,266,145

  6,236

  363·40

  Lochaber

  780,153

  2,529

  308·48

  Nairn

  255,270

  1,057

  241·50

  Ross and Cromarty

  1,101,085

  5,825

  189·03

  Skye and Lochalsh

  259,917

  812

  320·09

  Sutherland

  437,928

  1,735

  252·41

  East Lothian

  3,188,986

  12,352

  258·18

  Edinburgh

  16,176,753

  40,856

  395·95

  Midlothian

  3,080,600

  9,481

  324·92

  West Lothian

  5,622,961

  17,850

  315·01

  Argyll and Bute

  1,381,363

  7,258

  190·32

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  381,564

  1,540

  247·77

  Clydebank

  3,809,927

  9,177

  415·16

  Clydesdale

  5,170,396

  8,264

  625·65

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  1,405,435

  3,562

  394·56

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  4,074,014

  8,762

  464·96

  Cunninghame

  8,149,988

  19,104

  426·61

  Dumbarton

  4,200,572

  10,345

  406·05

  East Kilbride

  295,738

  1,110

  266·43

  Eastwood

  520,434

  1,656

  314·27

  Glasgow

  58,977,024

  144,661

  407·69

  Hamilton

  7,044,791

  18,892

  372·90

  Inverclyde

  7,586,574

  17,028

  445·54

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  5,612,640

  14,307

  392·30

  Kyle and Carrick

  4,851,910

  14,141

  343·11

  Monklands

  11,206,579

  24,288

  461·40

  Motherwell

  11,778,574

  33,896

  347·49

  Renfrew

  12,470,384

  31,641

  394·12

  Strathkelvin

  2,918·623

  8,431

  346·18

  Angus

  3,131,572

  11,756

  266·38

  Dundee

  14,581,254

  30,948

  471·15

  Perth and Kinross

  3,953,693

  12,592

  313·98

  Orkney

  458·495

  1,290

  355·42

  Shetland

  3,278,702

  2,556

  1,282·75

  Western Isles

  828,898

  2,322

  356·98

  Scotland

  271,554,629

  724,400

  374·87

  Source: Local authority HSG1 returns made to the Scottish Office Environment Department

  1 Council housing stock as at 30 September 1991

  Coastal Pollution (Sewage)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of sewage sludge has been discharged into the sea near the Firth of Clyde and elsewhere off the coast of Scotland in each of the past five years; what consultations have taken place concerning alternative methods of disposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The practice of discharging small quantities of sewage sludge from pipelines into coastal waters is only adopted in a few isolated areas where alternative arrangements are impracticable. It will be phased out completely by the end of 1998. Information is not held centrally about the small amount involved.

  However, sludge dumping from ships, which will also be phased out by the end of 1998, accounts for some 75 per cent. of Scotland's sewage sludge disposal. The quantities involved are shown in the table.

  Strathclyde regional council and Lothian regional council are the only Scottish authorities which dispose of sewage sludge by dumping at sea. Both have received consultants' reports on the options available to them after 1998. I understand that Lothian regional council is developing proposals based on incineration, whereas Strathclyde regional council favours land-based disposal routes involving agricultural land, forestry and land reclamation. Strathclyde regional council has embarked on a series of public awareness meetings to publicise its strategy.

  Firth of Clyde tonnes

  Elsewhere tonnes

  1988

  1,755,633

  249,330

  1989

  1,693,000

  247,575

  1990

  1,671,500

  272,105

  1991

  1,698,500

  285,535

  1992

  1,686,000

  298,525

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government's initiative is an important opportunity to capitalise both on the financial resources of the private sector and also its skills, for the provision of important projects and services. I am looking to make the maximum use of the opportunities it provides.

  A number of ventures in Scotland are being designed to take advantage of the new arrangements which encourage co-operation between the public and private sectors.

  Significant steps to improve transport links through private sector involvement have been taken with the appointment of consultants for two major projects: first, to define the terms of the competition for construction of the central Scotland fastlink scheme between Douglas on the new M6 and Whitburn on the M8, and secondly to conduct feasibility studies on the development of transport links around the firth of Forth, including a second Forth road bridge. The Forth study also endorses the
  388
  development of a light rapid transit or busway from Edinburgh airport to central Edinburgh and consultants are examining the scope for private finance in this venture.

  A consultation document entitled "Where Now?" was recently published, with the purpose of stimulating private sector interest in the provision of in-car traffic control and information systems in Scotland.

  The potential for involving private finance in other areas is also being examined. In particular, there may be possibilities for attracting private sector investment in health, higher and further education and government property. The management executive of the national health service has issued information on the initiative to health boards and NHS trusts in Scotland and encouraged them to consider actively how to make full use of the opportunities offered. From 1 April, Scottish higher education institutions will, with the approval of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, be able to borrow on the security of Exchequer-funded assets to finance capital developments. Guidance on the procedures which apply have been issued to institutions by the funding council.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Kynoch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress in constructing trunk road schemes during 1992–93 and on the schemes the Government propose to start in Scotland in the next three financial years.

  Mr. Lang
  The publication of "Roads, Traffic and Safety 1992" in March last year set out in detail our policies for developing and improving the trunk road network. In the recent and current period the emphasis of major projects is on:

  (1) completion of the A9 Perth-Sterling dualling;

  (2) completion of an M90/A90 Edinburgh-Aberdeen arterial route;

  (3) upgrading of the A74 to motorway.

  Projects are currently being prepared to permit in the medium term:

  (1) completion of M80 Glasgow-Stirling motorway;

  (2) completion of M8 Edinburgh-Glasgow motorway;

  (3) completion of M77 Glasgow-Kilmarnock motorway;

  (4) completion of M6 Carlisle-Glasgow motorway;

  (5) Central Scotland Fastlink (to link M6 at Douglas with M8 at Whitburn);

  (6) completion of A 1 Edinburgh-Dunbar to near motorway standard and dualling schemes between Dunbar and the Border;

  (7) integrated roads and transport provision around the Firth of Forth.

  This is an ambitious programme requiring very substantial investment.

  Significant progress has already been made. Five major schemes with a total value in excess of £125 million were completed during 1992–93. These were:

  A74(M)

  Elvanfoot to Paddy's Rickle Bridge

  A74(M)

  Kirkpatrick Fleming to Gretna

  M80

  Stepps Bypass

  A9

  Greenloaning to Blackford

  A1

  Tower to Dunglass

  In the course of 1992–93, some 15 major schemes—each with a cost of more than £3 million—were either under way or started. These schemes had a total value in excess of £380 million. They include seven schemes valued at £180 million to upgrade the A74 to motorway. As a result, over 65 per cent. of the Scottish upgrading, which will lead to an extension of the M6 motorway from Carlisle to

  389
  Glasgow, is now either completed or underway. The final two schemes on the Perth to Aberdeen route were also started and are now well under way. These schemes will complete the upgrading of this key road to dual carriageway providing a high quality link from the north east to the motorway network. On completion, this route will be designated by a single M90/A90 Edinburgh-Aberdeen route number in place of the five route numbers at present. The opening in 1992–93 of the A9 Greenloaning-Blackford scheme also brought 'with it the full completion of the A9 Perth-Stirling dualling.

  The additional £8·5 million I was able to announce in December 1992 for the roads programme in Scotland allowed me to bring forward into the financial year 1992–93 further major schemes. The schemes costing over £3 million started since 1 April 1992 are as follows:

  A74(M)

  Lockerbie Bypass (Muirhouse to Water o' Milk)

  A74(M)

  Water of Milk to Ecclefechan

  A74(M)

  Eaglesfield to Kirkpatrick Fleming

  A74(M)

  Dinwoodie Green to Muirhouse

  A74(M)

  Cleuchbrae to Dinwoodie Green

  A74(M)

  Ecclefechan to Eaglesfield Phase 1

  A94

  Brechin Bypass (dualling)

  A830

  Morar Bypass (Lochan Doilead to Kinsadel)

  A87

  Skye Bridge Approach Roads

  A9

  Broomhill to Logie Easter

  These schemes have a total value of almost £190 million. As well as the publicly funded schemes, private finance also additionally allowed the start of construction of the Skye bridge.

  I am now able to announce those major schemes with an estimated cost of over £3 million each which are expected to start between 1 April, 1993 and 31 March, 1996:

  1993–94

  M8

  Newbridge to Edinburgh

  M77

  Ayr Road Route (trunk road section)

  A74(M)

  Ecclefechan to Eaglesfield Phase II

  1994–95 and 1995–96

  A1

  Tranent to Haddington

  M8

  North Lanarkshire Stage 1

  M77

  Fenwick to B764

  A74(M)

  Beattock to Cleuchbrae

  A96

  Kintore Bypass

  A96

  Keith Bypass

  A828

  Creagan Bridge

  These schemes have a total value approaching £290 million.

  Our plans are, of course, subject to schemes satisfying the usual value for money criteria together with satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work.

  In addition to the major starts, funding for route action plans, road safety and other schemes has been substantially increased. This will allow work on the A76 Kilmarnock-Dumfries route and on the A9 Perth-Thurso route to be taken forward and continue the excellent progress which has already been made on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness; the A85 Perth to Dundee; and the A7 from Hawick southwards.

  Quangos
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) chairmen/women, (b) vice-chairmen/ women and (c) the members of each of the boards of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations over
  390
  which he has direct control; if he will indicate which of the appointments are part-time; and if he will list the date when each appointment is due to be renewed.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 3 March 1993]: As the information sought is extensive, I have arranged for a copy of the information sought by the hon. Member to be placed in the Library of the House. It shows as at 1 September 1992 the name of the body, the appointees to that body, their rank, the expiry date of the appointment where it is of a fixed term and whether it is a full-time or part-time appointment. Information on appointments to JP advisory committees and children's panels is limited to chairmen and deputy chairmen, as information on members is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Forestry Enterprise
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Forestry Enterprise assets currently for sale and those he expects to dispose of before 1995.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 19 March 1993]: The areas of forest land currently being offered for sale by the Forestry Commission on the open market are given in the table. It is not possible to predict which areas will be sold before 1995.

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  England

  Avon

  Abbots Wood (East)

  1

  East Tandit

  6

  Fifty Acre Wood

  21

  Old Park Wood

  10

  Round Hill Clump

  2

  Scutches

  5

  Three Corner Wood

  3

  Warren House

  3

  West Tandit/Ox House

  16

  Wraxall

  13

  Yewtree/Snakes Well/Fishpond

  11

  Cornwall

  Hay Wood

  54

  Penance and Derry's

  7

  Treworgey

  17

  Cumbria

  Walton Wood

  89

  Devon

  Brownsham Woods

  70

  Deershill Wood

  11

  Hawkmore

  22

  New Park Coppice

  15

  Durham

  Stanley Woods

  64

  Hampshire

  Ashe Park Wood

  37

  Peaky Close

  23

  Roke Mead Copse

  9

  Woodham House Copse

  5

  Humberside

  Sutton

  34

  Lincolnshire

  Wraby Wood

  70

  391

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  Norfolk

  Blackwater Plantation

  4

  Northumberland

  Colley Law

  8

  Corbies Crags Woods

  54

  Haydon Fell

  20

  North Yorkshire

  Averhams Wood

  52

  Black Plantation

  14

  Fishpond Wood

  6

  Raisdale

  180

  Seaton Old Wood

  5

  Turf Graft Wood

  3

  West Gateforth

  47

  Shropshire

  Coed Detton

  14

  Preston Springs

  38

  Somerset

  Denny Wood

  2

  Ellicombe Common

  2

  Fry's Wood

  24

  Higher Bitcombe

  30

  West Wood

  9

  South Yorkshire

  Green Springs

  12

  The Old Park

  41

  Walker Wood

  6

  Suffolk

  Langley High Wood

  49

  West Sussex

  Sparnwood and Swear Hanger

  12

  Wephurst Wood

  38

  Wiltshire

  Roundway Hill Covert

  27

  SCOTLAND

  Borders

  Lumsdain

  47

  Soutra

  156

  Soutra Exchange

  25

  Tweedsmuir Woodlands 2

  2,191

  Central

  Easter Muirhead

  35

  Ross Priory

  71

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Barclosh

  44

  Cally Mains (land at)

  4

  Galloway Package

  35

  Glaik

  63

  Lochnaw Estate (part)

  41

  Lochnaw (part)

  36

  South Aldouran

  16

  Grampian

  Aldlair

  3

  Barlatch

  3

  Drakemyres

  32

  Goval Wood

  19

  Haremoss

  19

  Hillend Moss

  16

  Kinnoir

  9

  Knock Hill Wood

  56

  Longhill

  120

  Mormond Hill

  255

  New Pitsligo (8 lots)

  103

  Redmoss

  45

  Rora Moss

  136

  392

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  Highland

  Arboll Wood

  18

  Badar Dhonnadh

  80

  Balgoil Belt

  5

  Blackwood

  65

  Corriemulzie

  222

  Duntelchaig

  90

  Eiden Wood

  44

  Factors Wood

  15

  Glencripesdale

  1,859

  Station Wood

  38

  Strathclyde

  Ballimony and Dunlossit

  1,300

  Barcaldine Castle Moss

  64

  Bunessan

  102

  Carrick

  2

  Curra Lochan

  20

  Daljarrock

  52

  Dalsmirren (part)

  1,094

  Drimsynie (land at)

  8

  Garrochoran

  197

  Kilgrammie

  113

  Scour and Beach

  1,710

  Tarnurich Beechwood

  2

  Troloss

  18

  Tayside

  High Wood

  53

  Muir of Pert

  82

  The Lair and Dalnoid

  73

  Wales

  Dyfed

  Allt Crychdu

  18

  Allt Fawr

  7

  Allt Gwemfelen

  16

  Allt Llwyn Dyfrion

  11

  Allt Pistyll Dewi

  33

  Allt Pwll Priddog

  18

  Allt y Fergwm

  23

  Brist Coed

  5

  Bwlch Newydd

  8

  Bylchau Duon

  62

  Cae Sarah

  4

  Cefn Eithin

  5

  Cilfowyr

  3

  Coed Cefn Pwll Hen

  20

  Coed Cymllwyfog

  15

  Coed Ffridd Cwmere

  20

  Coedgae Sara

  5

  Coed Gwastad

  28

  Coedmore, Coed Newydd

  17

  Coed Weddus

  5

  Coed y Gorof

  7

  Cwmbran Wood

  9

  Cwnheidre Uchaf

  24

  Fforest

  22

  Ffynon Lefrith

  25

  Glanteifi

  3

  Glaspant

  4

  Glebe Woods

  17

  Hafod Iwan

  32

  Knightson Bottom

  15

  Llwyn y Gwair

  14

  Lon Isaf

  7

  Pant y Gaseg

  3

  Pencwm Fawr

  9

  Penhill Wood

  4

  Penrallt Ddu

  13

  Pont Eynon and Allt y Forlan

  29

  Pont Henri

  14

  Portis Pant

  30

  Quarry Wood

  7

  Rams Wood

  26

  Scolton

  30

  393

  County/Region and Name

  Area (hectares)

  Troserch

  35

  Tynton Wood

  4

  Ty'r Shyme

  7

  Waun Baglan Woods

  26

  Wenallt

  17

  Gwent

  Craig y Merchant

  24

  Hafood Risclawdd

  23

  Tyllys

  12

  Gwyned

  Coed Dyfi

  17

  Coed Ty Uchaf

  15

  Glyn Estate

  49

  Powys

  Allt Cwm Tywyll

  6

  Crai Yr Henffordd

  8

  Cwmbach and Cwmcoch

  44

  Great Wood

  9

  Pwll Llydan

  31

  South Glamorgan

  Breach Wood

  9

  West Glamorgan

  Craig Ynysgollen

  10

  Gelligaer

  33

  Hong Kong
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the budget and staffing of Scottish Enterprise's office in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 26 March 1993]: Scottish Enterprise does not itself have an office in Hong Kong. However, the joint Scottish Office/Scottish Enterprise inward investment bureau., Locate in Scotland, operates a one-man office there. There are no plans at present to increase the budget or staffing of this office.

  Shetland (Oil Spill)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 10 March,Official Report, column 597, when he expects the marine nature conservation review team to conclude its assessment of its visit to Shetland; and if he will put a copy of the assessment in the Library.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 31 March 1993]: An initial impact assessment bulletin on the oil spill and severe weather conditions during January will be issued by Scottish Natural Heritage in April on request. This will give details of the effects on the marine biota in south Shetland, together with analysis of the effects on the earth science interest in coastal sites of special scientific interest in the area. The final report of the joint team of marine biologists from SNH, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee support unit is also expected in April. Copies of both reports will be placed in the Library.

nORTHERN IRELAND

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Mates
  The Northern Ireland civil service and the home civil service are equal opportunity employers and welcome applications from men and women, irrespective of their religion, disability or ethnic origin. Recruitment to the senior grades of the home civil service and the Northern Ireland civil service is on the basis of merit in fair and open competition. Both are members of Opportunity and the Northern Ireland civil service has set itself voluntary goal of increasing the proportion of women in the senior general service, grade 5 and above, to 10 per cent. by 31 December 1998.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his Department last conducted surveys of(a) ethnic origins and (b) the number of women among its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  The Northern Ireland Office, home civil service, last conducted a complete survey of the ethnic origins of all staff in 1988; the data have been updated as and when staff have joined the Department. The number of women in post can be surveyed by means of the personnel information system at any appropriate time.

  Compositional analysis of the Northern Ireland civil service by religion, sex and disability is a regular feature of the work of its equal opportunities unit. Particular surveys to establish the number of female staff are not required. The Northern Ireland civil service does not monitor the ethnic origin of staff.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to 7 and overall in his Department are(a) women, (b) from ethnic minorities and (c) disabled people.

  Mr. Mates
  At 1 January 1993 there were 114 female staff in the Northern Ireland Office, home civil service, which represents 50 per cent. of the Department. The number in grades 1 to 7 was as follows:

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  1

  0

  —

  2

  0

  —

  3

  0

  —

  4

  0

  —

  5

  0

  —

  6

  0

  —

  7

  4

  17

  A total of 14 per cent. of the Department are from the ethnic minorities—London only—and none of the staff is registered disabled.

  At 1 January 1992 there were 12,661 female staff in the Northern Ireland civil service, which is 43 per cent. of the service. There were 431, 1·5 per cent., who were, or had been registered as disabled. The Northern Ireland civil service does not monitor the ethnic origin of its staff.
  395
  The number and percentage of female staff and staff with disabilities in each grade, 1 to 7, was:

  Grade

  Number of females

  Percentage female

  Number who self-reported a disability (SRD)

  Percentage SRD

  Number registered as disabled (RD)

  Percentage RD

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  2·4

  1

  2·4

  1

  2·4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  14

  7·4

  5

  2·6

  —

  —

  6

  60

  17·2

  13

  3·7

  3

  0·9

  7

  81

  9·7

  22

  2·6

  3

  0·4

  In addition, 64 registered disabled people are currently working in the Northern Ireland civil service under the sheltered placement scheme.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will authorise legal support for individual members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who have been falsely accused in future action for damages against their false accusers.

  Mr. Mates
  No. It is appropriately the relevant police staff associations who provide legal support for their members at disciplinary hearings and for other relevant matters, or individual officers may make their own arrangements. However, the police authority for Northern Ireland does provide financial assistance to members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who intend issuing defamation proceedings, in accordance with set criteria which also apply to forces in Great Britain.

  VAT (Fuel and Power)
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department will take to ensure that those on low incomes who do not qualify for social security payments are able to meet the extra costs of fuel bills after the value added tax increases have been applied; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mates
  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his Budget statement, extra help will be available to those dependent on income-related benefits. This will be paid from 1 April 1994 and will be in addition to the automatic increases in benefits to reflect the impact of the increases in fuel bills on the retail prices index.

  Wasting Police Time
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions have been initiated against persons in Northern Ireland who have been responsible for wasting police time in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Mates
  The requested information is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  8

  1989

  21

  1990

  4

  1991

  6

  1992

  3

  Paramilitaries
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been killed by(a) republican paramilitaries and (b) loyalist paramilitaries over the last 20 years; and if he will give details by constituency.

  Mr. Mates
  From the information available it is believed that over 2,600 people have been killed as a result of the actions of terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland during the period from 1969 to 1992. It is not known in every case precisely which paramilitary organisation was responsible, but it is likely that 69 per cent. of deaths involved republican groups and 31 per cent. involved loyalist groups. It is not possible to provide this information by constituency without disproportionate cost.

  Newtownabbey RUC Station
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many reported crimes have been recorded at Newtownabbey RUC station in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions have taken place in respect of reported crimes.

  Mr. Mates
  The total number of crimes reported and detected in the Newtownabbey station and sub-divisional areas during the last three years is as follows:

  Newtownabbey Station Area

  Newtownabbey Sub-divisional Area

  Year

  Number of crimes recorded

  11 Number of crimes detected

  Number of crimes recorded

  1Number of crimes detected

  1990

  1,153

  539

  2,867

  1,246

  1991

  1,188

  470

  3,007

  1,187

  1992

  1,411

  499

  3,290

  1,178

  1 The number of crimes detected for each year may include crimes recorded/committed in previous year.

  Figures in respect of prosecutions are available only by sub-divisional area and are as follows:

  Year

  Persons proceeded against

  1990

  403

  1991

  372

  1992

  409

  Notes:

  1. The statistics shown refer to the area in which the crime was

  397
  committed and not necessarily the area where the person proceeded against resided.

  2. One person may be proceeded against for more than one offence or a number of persons may be convicted in relation to one offence

  3. The figure for persons proceeded against in each year includes persons proceeded against for offences committed in previous years.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to increase patrolling and surveillance in estates for which Newtownabbey RUC station is responsible in east Antrim.

  Mr. Mates
  This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the RUC, but I understand that police patrols have recently been increased in the Newtownabbey sub-division area.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dwellings are owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in(a) each housing executive district, (b) each council area and (c) each housing executive region.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 1 March 1993, the number of dwellings owned by the housing executive in each housing executive district, region and council area was as follows:

  Northern Ireland housing executive Housing stock as at 1 March 1993

  District

  Gross stock

  District council

  Total

  Belfast 1

  3,941

  Belfast

  37,324

  Belfast 2

  5,656

  Belfast 3

  5,156

  Belfast 4

  5,088

  Belfast 5

  5,947

  Belfast 6

  5,155

  Belfast 7

  6,381

  Belfast Region

  37,324

  Bangor

  4,111

  North Down

  4,111

  Newtownards 1

  3,963

  Ards

  5,995

  Newtownards 2

  2,032

  Castlereagh 1

  3,719

  Castlereagh

  6,411

  Castlereagh 2

  6,411

  Lisburn 1

  4,850

  Lisburn

  10,708

  Lisburn 2

  2,630

  Lisburn 3

  3,228

  Downpatrick

  4,451

  Down

  4,451

  South East Region

  31,676

  Banbridge

  3,082

  Banbridge

  3,082

  Newry 1

  3,246

  Newry and Mourne

  7,043

  Newry 2

  3,797

  Armagh

  3,914

  Armagh

  3,914

  Brownlow

  2,035

  Craigavon

  7,836

  Lurgan

  2,978

  Portadown

  2,823

  South Region

  21,875

  Ballymena

  5,421

  Ballymena

  5,421

  Antrim

  5,017

  Antrim

  5,017

  Newtownabbey 1

  3,986

  Newtownabbey

  7,669

  Newtownabbey 2

  3,683

  398

  District

  Gross stock

  District council

  Total

  Carrickfergus

  3,527

  Carrickfergus

  3,527

  Larne

  2,626

  Larne

  2,626

  Ballycastle

  1,519

  Moyle

  1,519

  Ballymoney

  2,776

  Ballymoney

  2,776

  Coleraine

  5,481

  Coleraine

  5,481

  North East Region

  34,036

  Londonderry 1

  4,219

  Derry

  12,378

  Londonderry 2

  4,266

  Londonderry 3

  3,893

  Limavady

  2,820

  Limavady

  2,820

  Magherafelt

  2,658

  Magherafelt

  2,658

  Strabane

  3,998

  Strabane

  3,998

  Omagh

  3,410

  Omagh

  3,410

  Cookstown

  2,105

  Cookstown

  2,105

  Dungannon

  3,426

  Dungannon

  3,426

  Fermanagh

  3,943

  Fermanagh

  3,943

  West Region

  34,738

  Northern Ireland Total

  159,649

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the costs of closing the Housing Executive's direct labour organisation this year and the total number of jobs which would be lost by district.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland housing executive, but I understand from the chief executive that the net cost of closing the direct labour organisation after taking account of anticipated receipts from the realisation of assets and the disposal of depots is £2·2 million. The number of job losses, by depot, based on employees, permanent and temporary, in post at the end of January 1993 is:

  Number

  Central unit

  22

  Belfast

  250

  Craigavon

  54

  Ballyclare

  164

  Coleraine

  52

  Derry

  90

  Omagh

  102

  Support services

  15

  The Housing Executive hopes that some of the salaried staff included in the above can be redeployed. It should also be noted that the Housing Executive had intended to scale down the DLO labour force from around 750 at present to about 250 to 300 by the end of 1993–94.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by district the total number of Housing Executive contract modules per category for which the executive's DLO tendered, the number of contracts which the DLO actually won and the number in which it came second.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that the information, by Housing Executive region, is as follows:
  399

  COT

  Electrical

  Building

  Plumbing

  Grounds Maintenance

  A

  C

  B

  A

  B

  C

  A

  B

  C

  A

  B

  C

  A

  B

  C

  Belfast

  17

  3

  2

  20

  1

  2

  20

  7

  3

  20

  3

  4

  7

  14

  1

  South East

  6

  2

  1

  18

  0

  1

  21

  4

  5

  19

  3

  0

  6

  14

  0

  South

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  6

  0

  1

  North East

  9

  0

  2

  30

  2

  3

  30

  5

  1

  30

  2

  3

  9

  5

  0

  West

  8

  1

  2

  18

  0

  3

  26

  3

  4

  26

  3

  10

  8

  16

  1

  Total

  41

  6

  7

  87

  3

  9

  98

  20

  13

  96

  12

  17

  36

  19

  3

  1 The Housing Executive has questioned the viability of a number of these tenders.

  Notes:

  COT = Cchange of Tenancy.

  A =Number of modules competed for.

  B = Number of modules won by DLO.

  C= Number of modules in which DLO came second.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement giving details of the criteria for commercial viability applied by the Housing Executive to its DLO; and what consultation took place with the DOE regarding the establishment, interpretation and implementation of these criteria.

  Mr. Atkins
  The criteria were that all work undertaken from April 1993 had to be won following competition with the private sector and that from the same date no deficit financing would be available to cover trading losses. This followed discussion between the Department and the Housing Executive in the light of trading losses of some £4·5 million in 1991–92 and a projected loss of £3 million in 1992–93. There was regular discussion between the Housing Executive and the Department on the interpretation and implementation of these criteria.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total value of contracts won be each DLO district of the Housing Executive for the next year and the projected profits or losses.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that the information is as follows:

  A. Building maintmance

  Depot

  Valuations of contracts won

  Trading account projections for 1993–94

  £

  £

  Belfast

  1,561,942

  1155,000

  Loss

  Ballyclare

  308,713

  2—

  Coleraine

  445,777

  35,000

  Loss

  Pennyburn

  168,388

  2—

  Omagh

  294,896

  2—

  1 This figure relates to combining Belfast and Ballyclare into a single operation.

  2 The tenders won by these depots represented such a small fraction of the turnover required to support the existing Depot structures that the Housing Executive considered it impossible to conduct meaningful projected trading accounts with prospects of future viability.

  400

  B. Grounds maintenance

  Depot

  Valuations of contracts won

  Projected profit-loss 1993–94 before application of overheads and running costs

  £

  £

  Belfast

  473,994

  41,000

  Loss

  Ballyclare

  306,671

  35,000

  Profit

  Coleraine

  142,695

  17,000

  Profit

  Pennyburn

  498,500

  1,000

  Loss

  Omagh

  110,920

  14,000

  Loss

  Note:

  An attempt to aggregate the Ballyclare and Coleraine operations with the most viable tenders won by other depots into a single operational unit (to reduce overheads and running costs to a minimum) produced a projected trading account net loss of
  £54,000.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what profits were made by each section of the Housing Executive's DLO over the past year.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the, chief executive that provisional accounts for the 11 months to 28 February 1993 are as follows:

  Depot

  Building maintenance

  Grounds maintenance

  Total

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  Belfast

  (571,000)

  (235,000)

  (806,000)

  Carn

  (816,000)

  (75,000)

  (891,000)

  Ballyclare

  (224,000)

  39,000

  (185,000)

  Coleraine

  45,000

  5,000

  50,000

  Pennyburn

  (147,000)

  36,000

  (111,000)

  Omagh

  (713,000)

  (75,000)

  (788,000)

  Total loss

  (2,426,000)

  (305,000)

  (2,731,000)

  Note: Figures in brackets indicate a loss.

  The Carn depot building maintenance operation was terminated at the end of October 1992. The estimated total DLO trading loss for the full year to 31 March 1993 is presently estimated at £3 million.

  Employees (Religious Affiliation)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of Northern Ireland Railways.
  401
  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the company. I am advised by the managing director that the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of Northern Ireland Railways Company Ltd. is not identified separately but is built into clerical and management labour costs within the human resources department and into general administration costs.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of(a) Ulsterbus Ltd., (b) Citybus Ltd. and (c) Flexibus.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the companies. I am advised by the managing director that the annual cost of monitoring religious affiliation is not readily available since it is not separately quantified but forms part of the overall cost of personnel administration.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Youth Council for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The approximate cost in 1991–92 was £250.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Local Enterprise Development Unit.

  Mr. Atkins
  The annual cost is negligible.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of(a) Belfast international airport and (b) Belfast city airport.

  Mr. Atkins
  The annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees at Belfast international airport and Belfast city airport is estimated to be £3,500 and £20,000 respectively.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Queen's university, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  The annual cost is estimated to be some £42,000.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the company. I am advised by the chief executive that the annual cost of monitoring religious affiliation of the employees of the NITHC is not identified separately but absorbed within normal administration costs.

  Terrorism
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the most comprehensive list of terrorist-related incidents kept by his Department; and where it can be inspected.

  Mr. Mates
  Official records of terrorist-related incidents contain sensitive information and it is not 402
  therefore appropriate to make them available for public inspection. However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Kingston-Upon-Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 3 December 1992 at column 308. A comprehensive list of persons who have been killed as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe, including the name, date of death, and a brief report of the incident, is currently being compiled and will be placed in the Library.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed by(a) the Northern Ireland Curriculum Council, (b) the university of Ulster and (c) Queen's university, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 61 people are employed at the Northern Ireland Curriculum Council, 3,018 at the university of Ulster and 2,819 at the Queen's university of Belfast.

  Ulster Museum
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the attendance figures for 1992 for the Ulster museum and its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the 1991 figures.

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 19 January 1993,Official Report, columns 174–75.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Mates
  The potential scope of the initiative will vary between Departments. The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments are examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993.

  Valuation and Lands Agency
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing the Valuation and Lands Agency.

  Mr. Mates
  I am pleased to announce that the Valuation and Lands Agency has been established as an executive agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland with effect from today. It will be responsible for the provision of a good quality, cost-effective valuation and estate management service and fair, prompt and helpful service to clients, taxpayers and ratepayers. The following targets have been set for the agency:

  (1) Rating—to complete 42,000 continuous revision cases and 700 appeals to the Commissioner of Valuation, equivalent to a case weighted output of 25,500 units;

  403
  Other—to complete 23,750 cases for other Government Departments and public bodies, equivalent to a case weighted output of 31,800 units;

  (2) To achieve an increase in valuer productivity and all staff productivity of 3·8 per cent. and 2·5 per cent. respectively;

  (3) To achieve a reduction of 3 per cent. in the real value of unit cost of casework;

  (4) Where continuous revision cases are subject to retrospective backdating, to issue 75 per cent. of certificates within six months and 92 per cent. within 12 months of the event giving rise to the revision of the valuation list.

  (5) To increase by 3 per cent. the percentage of selected representative cases completed within agreed time targets.

  (6) To complete 85 per cent. of appeals where the assessment of NAV decided by the Commissioner of Valuation falls within established valuation tolerances of the initial assessment.

  The valuation and Lands Agency has also to achieve running costs cash efficiency savings of at least 2·5 per cent.

  I am confident that the new status as a next steps agency will lead to a significant and sustained improvement in the delivery of this important public service. I am delegating full managerial authority for the agency's day-to-day operations to the chief executive. The policy and resources framework for the agency is set out in the framework document, copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Defence Diversification
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what resources he expects to be released from the EC PERIFRA II programme in inward investment to support diversification from defence industry manufacture.

  Mr. Needham
  A total of 8·128 mecu of grant under the EC scheme PERIFRA II has been awarded to eight United Kingdom projects. Five of the eight, attracting grant of 5·729mecu, are defence diversification projects. No further projects will be considered by the Commission under this scheme.

  Direct Selling
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed in the direct selling industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Leigh
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Energy Advisory Panel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to establish his new energy advisory panel mentioned in Cm. 2235, paragraph 3.32, how many experts he plans to be members of the energy advisory panel; how the selection of panel members will be made; what additional resources he will make available to support the energy advisory panel's work; whether the energy advisory panel will meet annually; and whether information submitted to or obtained by the energy advisory panel will be treated in commercial confidence.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall announce further details about the energy advisory panel in due course.

  Annual Energy Report
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what time of year he intends to publish the annual energy report announced at paragraph 3.31 of his report, "The Prospects for Coal", Cm. 2235.

  Mr. Eggar
  An announcement about the timing of the annual energy report will be made in due course.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is considering, in consultation with the Treasury, how the private finance initiative can be applied to projects for which his Department is responsible.

  Non-fossil Fuel Levy
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to review the 1998 data for ending the non-fossil fuel levy and obligation; what consultations he has had with the Energy and Competition Commissioners of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department is in discussion with the European Commission concerning the 1998 limitation on the non-fossil fuel obligation in relation to renewables.

  Aerospace Companies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of launch aid made available to British aerospace companies for each year since 1986.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Launch aid payments to British aerospace companies for each year since 1986 are as follows:

  Year

  £ millions

  1986–87

  119·0

  1987–88

  51·9

  1988–89

  98·4

  1989–90

  133·6

  1990–91

  141·1

  1991–92

  78·7

  1992–93

  31·3

  Firework-related Injuries
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many firework-related injuries were referred to hospitals in 1992.

  Mr. Leigh
  According to reports from accident and emergency units in hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland, 942 people required treatment for injuries caused by fireworks, an increase of 13·25 per cent. over the annual average of 830 injuries since the end of 1987. A breakdown of the figures for 1992 and for the previous
  405
  four years by region, type of injury and kind of firework involved is being placed today in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. My Department will be discussing with the industry what further steps are to be taken to encourage safer use of fireworks in the future.

  Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his plans for the future of the Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. Eggar
  In its report on the Atomic Energy Authority published last May, Cm 1947, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission recommended a further review of strategic options for the Atomic Energy Authority, including that of removing the Atomic Energy Authority's business activities from the public sector where practicable. As a first step, I am commissioning independent consultants to consider the practicability of privatisation and to advise on the main options. shall decide how best to proceed in the light of the report and the Atomic Energy Authority's own views.

  Ministerial Travel Costs
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost to his Department of each trip abroad on coal and energy-related matters undertaken by himself and the Minister for Energy; and what contributions to the costs were made by other organisations.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 9 March 1993]: The information requested is as follows:

  Destination

  Total cost

  £

  President

  Russia and Azerbaijan1

  11,600

  President and Mr. Eggar

  Belgium

  2,200

  Mr. Eggar

  United States of America (twice)

  13,200

  Belgium (twice)

  900

  Portugal

  1,000

  Norway (four times)

  6,300

  Austria

  1,000

  Germany

  1,200

  Japan/China

  10,100

  France

  600

  1 Energy related matters formed only part of the purpose of this trip.

  No contributions to the costs of these visits were received from other organisations.

  Opencast Coal Mining
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the level of private sector investment in the supply of British coal from opencast sites; and how many people are employed in this sector;

  (2) how many jobs of private sector employees engaged in opencast coal production would be lost if British Coal opencast coal production was cut by (a) one quarter, (b) one third or (c) one half.
  406
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 March 1993]: British Coal has advised me that private sector companies have invested over £1 billion in plant and other assets engaged in opencast mining in the United Kingdom. Some 10,000 people are directly employed in opencast operations. Employment levels could be expected to change broadly in line with changes in output.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the assessed reserves of opencast coal in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 March 1993]: British Coal advises me that proved reserves of opencast coal in Great Britain are in excess of 300 million tonnes, and there are further substantial unproved reserves. There are no figures available for lignite reserves in Northern Ireland.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many chemicals and families of chemicals could potentially be used as chemical weapons.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 31 March 1993]: Any toxic chemical could potentially be used as a chemical weapon.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 484, what was the cost to public funds, in cash terms and at 1993 prices, of the offers for regional selective assistance in the Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye travel-to-work area in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Needham
  The totals of payments made in cash terms and at 1993 prices under the offers of RSA made in the Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye travel-to-work area for the years 1984 to 1993, to dates are as follows:

  Year

  Cash Terms

  1993 Prices

  £000

  £000

  1984

  0

  0

  1985

  1,086

  712

  1986

  947

  641

  1987

  196

  140

  1988

  350

  268

  1989

  1,854

  1,513

  1990

  630

  554

  1991

  113

  106

  1992

  242

  236

  11993

  0

  0

  Total

  5,418

  4,170

  1 To date

WALES

  Employment Projects, North Wales
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects under way in north Wales designed to improve employment prospects, and the number of people they are helping.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As well as a substantial number of capital projects in north Wales, my Department has
  407
  recorded nearly 100 industrial projects in the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd since 1 January 1992 which, in total, promise to create or safeguard in excess of 5,200 jobs. These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time projects were recorded and have not been amended to take account of subsequent developments. The following is a list of the companies concerned, excluding those that have requested confidentiality.

  Projects recorded

  Pilkington Micronics Ltd.

  Pilkington PE Ltd.

  Rowan Foods Ltd.

  W & J Tod Ltd.

  Westley Paper Co.

  Rongar Ltd.

  Abercroft Cakes Ltd.

  Accumatic Filtration Ltd.

  British Aerospace Corporate Jets Ltd.

  Cambria Oil Ltd.

  Hazelwood Frozen Foods Ltd.

  Brookfield Foods Ltd.

  Comp-Plus Ltd.

  Fisher Seafoods Ltd.

  Griflex Creators Ltd.

  Perfaroll

  Wells Kelo Ltd.

  Ynys Mon Personal Development Ltd.

  Mackintosh Reynolds

  Leapfrog

  Amazon Gas Ltd.

  Boss Smithsons

  Bradite Paints Ltd.

  Industrial Cleaning Papers Ltd.

  Pearl Assurance Pic

  Air Atlantic Express Ltd.

  Casco Nobel Ltd.

  Core Drill (UK) Ltd.

  Gold Crest Foods Ltd.

  Kaun

  Amcor Packaging (Europe) Ltd.

  Barry UK Ltd.

  Delta Dailyfoods (UK) Ltd.

  PWA Waldhof UK Ltd.

  Golden Food Products Ltd.

  Peboc Ltd.

  The Bradford Soap Works Ltd.

  HJ Heinz/Sous Chef Ltd.

  NK International Ltd.

  Pacplas Ltd.

  Communication Systems Inc.

  Cambrian Lifting Equipment Ltd.

  Cigmon Meats Ltd.

  Denis Ferranti Meters Ltd.

  Henrob Ltd.

  Honeycrown Ltd.

  Patina Press Ltd.

  Phillips Plastics Corporation Ltd.

  South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd.

  Marshall Food Group Ltd.

  Anchor Computing Systems Ltd.

  Davro (Chester) Ltd.

  Contact Cables Ltd.

  Allen Industrial Ltd.

  P & R Graphics Ltd.

  North Wales Agricultural Engineers

  Seastream Products Ltd.

  Velmore Fashions Ltd.

  Lovell Johns Ltd.

  Country Style Foods

  Hamilton Oil & Co. Ltd.

  Water Disconnections
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines on special circumstances have been issued to Welsh Water in respect of the disconnection of customers for delinquent payments.
  408
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Director General of Water Services issued guidelines to water companies last year on a consistent and fair approach towards customers with unpaid charges. This followed a review of companies policy and practice. He is now considering reports from the regional customer services committees on the effectiveness of the guidelines and will be considering what further action may be necessary.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what was the average class size of(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) sixth form colleges, (d) colleges of further education, (e) colleges of higher education and (f) infant schools in each year since 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 February 1993, c. 273]: The methodology applied to the 1990–91 data was inconsistent with other years. The figures for primary schools has now been revised as shown in the table. The average class size in primary and secondary schools and further and higher education courses in Wales since 1979 is shown in the following table. Figures are not available for further and higher education courses prior to 1982–83 and for secondary schools prior to 1986–87. Information on the average class size of infant schools and sixth form colleges is not collected separately. Information for the colleges of the university of Wales is not available.

  Primary

  Secondary1

  Further education2

  Higher education2

  1979–80

  24·3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980–81

  23·9

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981–82

  24·1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1982–83

  23·9

  n/a

  13·5

  12·5

  1983–84

  23·7

  n/a

  13·5

  13·2

  1984–85

  24·1

  n/a

  14·0

  13·7

  1985–86

  24·3

  n/a

  13·3

  13·4

  1986–87

  24·4

  19·4

  13·2

  14·2

  1987–88

  24·5

  19·1

  13·5

  14·1

  1988–89

  24·8

  19·0

  314·0

  313·5

  1989–90

  24·8

  18·9

  14·0

  13·9

  1990–91

  25·2

  19·2

  14·3

  15·7

  1991–92

  25·4

  21·5

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Prior to 1986–87 information on the size of classes in secondary schools was collected on a different basis. These data, relating to the numbers of classes by size, are given in the Secondary Education section of "Statistics of Education in Wales: Schools", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  2 Average class sizes for Wales are calculated on a further education or higher education basis and the figures do include a small number of further education courses run at higher education establishments and higher education courses at further education establishments.

  3 Changes in methodology introduced in 1988–89 may affect comparisons of indicators between 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of unemployed(a) men and (b) women in south Wales; and if he will give for each sex the percentage unemployment rate.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In February 1993 there were 70,178 male and 17,295 female unemployed claimants in south Wales—defined as the counties of Gwent and Mid, South and West Glamorgan—representing 15·5 and 5 per cent. of the male and female work force respectively.

  M4 (Sign Board)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will re-locate the sign board on the M4 westbound carriageway welcoming motorists to Wales to its correct geographical position.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I do not intend to relocate the existing "Welcome to Wales" sign, which is not intended to mark the border. The border itself is the centre of the River Wye. The sign is currently situated half a mile from the border and as close to the border as highway safety considerations will allow.

  Dredging
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library all the information he has received to date in relation to the monitoring processes required under the licence conditions imposed on the Llanelli Sand Dredging Company for dredging on the Helwick bank.

  Mr. Gwilynit Jones
  No material required under the Government view has yet been received. Once it has, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that it meets the conditions attached to the licence, I will make copies available in the Library of the House. Copies will also be sent to interested parties.

  Llantarnam Abbey
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement about the future of Llantarnam abbey.

  (2) what representations he has received regarding the future of Llantarnam abbey; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Llantarnam abbey is a grade II listed building and proposals affecting its future will be considered against published planning guidance. Representations were made to the Department concerning the impact on the abbey of our proposals for the A4042 Llantarnam bypass. These were considered at a public inquiry held in February/March 1992 and orders for the bypass were published in December 1992.

  Cardiac Surgery
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to establish a second cardiac surgery unit in south Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend will announce his proposals for the further development of cardiac services when he has had an opportunity to consider the conclusions of the Touche Ross options appraisal report.

  Consultants
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each health authority in Wales a list of reports commissioned from management consultants in each of the last three years to date specifying(a) the date on which the work was commissioned, (b) the name of the management consultants and (c) the subject area.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Nurses (Grading)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals are still outstanding under the scheme for the regrading of nurses in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The numbers of clinical grading appeals currently outstanding in Wales are as follows:

  Number

  At employing authority level

  120

  At regional level (Welsh Appeals Committee)

  1,285

  At national level (Negotiating Council)

  223

  British Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives have been taken by the British Council to raise the profile of Wales abroad.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The British Council in Wales aims to promote an overseas awareness of the distinctive culture, resources and achievements of Wales. It co-ordinates educational missions and exhibitions overseas, for example in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Germany, to enhance an understanding of contemporary Wales and to publicise the quality of Welsh further and higher education and Welsh achievements in science and research. In May 1993, it is arranging in collaboration with British Council offices overseas and commercial sponsors—an art event "Wales Week at Stuttgart".

  There are a number of other activities which the British Council undertakes which enable overseas specialists to visit Wales, and also to enable Welsh specialists to go to other countries to organise specialist courses.

  Radiotherapy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now take steps to ensure that radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients can be made available at Ysbyty Gwynedd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend is currently considering an investment appraisal report on how best to establish a dedicated cancer treatment centre with radiotherapy facilities in north Wales. A separate economic appraisal of a recent proposal by the Clatterbridge centre for oncology for a networked radiotherapy treatment service is also being considered. My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make an announcement soon.

  Continuing Care Beds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for the numbers of continuing care beds in each health authority in Wales; and what the corresponding figures were five years earlier.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The requested information is not available centrally.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress his Department has made in meeting its targets for settling hill livestock compensatory allowance claims in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
  411
  Mr. David Hunt
  The target was to pay, by the end of March, 80 per cent. of claims received. I am pleased to report that 86 per cent. of claims received had been met.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implications for Wales of the reduction in the resources committed for the 1993–94 programme.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Excluding special commitments for the national garden festival and the community revival strategy in 1992–93, Wales will benefit from a slightly higher urban programme settlement in 1993–94 than in the previous year.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost to public funds of mentally handicapped patients in small group homes in Wales, including their DHS benefit; and what is the, corresponding figure for long-stay accommodation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The cost of providing a home and support in the community varies widely according to individual need. It can be slightly greater than providing support in long-stay institutions. The additional cost is spent to ensure a better quality of life in the community.

  Health Checks
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of patients reaching the age of 65 years are receiving an automatic health check under his new general practitioner contract in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available centrally. As from today, patients will be able to require a three-year health check, as prescribed in general practitioners' terms of service and in line with the patients charter.

  Community Care
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance his Department has given to the Welsh Consumers Council to evaluate the requirements of consumers of community care services in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has not given assistance to the Welsh Consumer Council for this purpose. It is a function of local councils to assess the needs of their local populations for community services in preparing their social care plans. Resources have been made available to the Welsh Consumer Council to manage a scheme to set up panels of users and carers across Wales to evaluate the published information about social and community care which is produced by the statutory authorities.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to distribute in Wales his Department's brochure, "Community Care Changes in April 1993"; how many copies of the brochure have been printed; and what has been the cost to date.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A total of 80,000 bilingual copies of the leaflet, "Community Care in April
  1993", have been 412
  produced, at a cost of £13,550. They have been distributed to main post offices and Benefits Agency offices throughout Wales.

  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate has been made of the total revenue cost to public funds in respect of the 20-year old male mentally ill patient designated in the very challenging behaviour class who recently left the Llanfrechfa Grange hospital, Newport, into community care; what was the amount of special grant given to the Welsh Office; and what are the capital costs for this patient.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information relating to specific individuals is not kept centrally. The costs of support in both long stay institutions and in the community are based on individual needs.

  Funds are available from the mental handicap strategy for the revenue costs to support individuals with a mental handicap in the community. While they may be slightly greater than comparable costs of hospital care, the additional cost is well spent to ensure improvements in the quality of life for the individuals concerned.

  No central information is available on capital costs of individual schemes funded by housing associations or private mortgages. The mental handicap strategy does not normally supply capital monies for the purchase of houses.

  Schools (Fires)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many schools have been damaged or destroyed by arson since 1980 in each local education authority area;

  (2) what has been the estimated financial cost of the damage to schools by fire, by accident or deliberate means, since 1980.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Schools (Vandalism)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what initiatives he is taking to lessen vandalism in and about Wales;

  (2) what policies he has to lessen damage to schools by arson; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Building bulletins relating to crime prevention and fire safety in schools have been issued to local education authorities. These provide practical guidance to help combat vandalism and arson.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to assistrough sleepers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys carried out a census of people sleeping rough in England and Wales on the night of 21 to 22 April 1991 and found 29 rough sleepers in the Principality.

  Local councils wishing to test innovative approaches in the exercise of their responsibilities for dealing with such cases may apply under the homelessness reserve, which has been maintained for 1993–94.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take account of the results of the referendums to be held in the Llangollen area on the proposals for local government reform when drawing up the legislation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I will be interested to see the results when they are available.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratio
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average pupil-teacher ratio in(a) primary arid (b) secondary schools in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Pupil teacher ratio within schools

  (a) maintained primary schools

  22·3

  (b) maintained secondary schools

  15·6

  Note: As at January 1992.

  Social Rented Housing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Wales what support his Department gives to research, into fire protection in social rented houses in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A grant of £27,000 has been awarded to the Cardiff institute of higher education under the Welsh Office's housing options Wales small grants scheme which is enabling a fire risk and safety assessment project to be undertaken.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account has been taken of the guidance given in the World Health Organisation European Series Number 46 publication on Site Selection for New Hazardous Waste Management Facilities (1993) in making decisions to grant planning permission for waste incineration facilities in Wales.

  Gross capital expenditure on schools1

  £000

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Cash prices

  Clwyd

  6,664

  5,959

  6,246

  6,024

  8,208

  Dyfed

  5,365

  5,315

  3,337

  4,637

  6,032

  Gwent

  5,888

  6,896

  7,045

  8,890

  6,124

  Gwynedd

  2,238

  2,299

  2,075

  2,520

  2,763

  Mid Glamorgan

  6,255

  6,260

  6,766

  7,322

  6,174

  Powys

  2,452

  1,699

  1,854

  1,212

  2,046

  South Glamorgan

  1,920

  3,980

  6,427

  6,307

  7,056

  West Glamorgan

  5,059

  5,160

  6,106

  6,204

  4,616

  Total Counties

  35,841

  37,568

  39,856

  43,116

  43,019

  1991–92 price

  Clwyd

  8,778

  7,316

  7,196

  6,425

  8,208

  Dyfed

  7,067

  6,526

  3,844

  4,946

  6,032

  Gwent

  7,756

  8,467

  8,116

  9,482

  6,124

  Gwynedd

  2,948

  2,823

  2,390

  2,688

  2,763

  Mid Glamorgan

  8,239

  7,686

  7,795

  7,810

  6,174

  Powys

  3,230

  2,086

  2,136

  1,293

  2,046

  414
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No planning applications for waste incineration facilities have been considered by my right hon. Friend in 1993. Information on decisions taken by local planning authorities is not held centrally.

  Public Appointments
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the appointments made by him as listed in "Public Bodies 1992" came within the categories set out in paragraphs 49 and 50 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" and required a submission to the Prime Minister.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I consult the Prime Minister as necessary in accordance with the guidance in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers".

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested in the interim guidance published by the Treasury. In a number of areas, the Welsh Office and its sponsored bodies are actively engaged in joint ventures with the private sector. I expect the new guidelines to help expand this practice into new fields. A number of such projects are already under consideration.

  Schools (Capital Spending)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of capital spending on schools for each of the local education authorities for each of the last five years in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information available is given in the table.
  415

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  South Glamorgan

  2,529

  4,887

  7,404

  6,727

  7,056

  West Glamorgan

  6,664

  6,335

  7,034

  6,617

  4,616

  Total Counties

  47,209

  46,125

  45,916

  45,989

  43,019

  1 Includes nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.

  Quinquennial Reviews
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to commence the quinquennial reviews of(a) the national library of Wales, (b) the national museum of Wales, (c) the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales, (d) the Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, (e) Housing for Wales and (f) the Curriculum Council for Wales; what proposals he has for meeting his staffing requirements for release for undertaking these quinquennial reviews; what proposals he has to set up a section of his Department to undertake reviews; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Financial management and policy reviews are planned to begin during 1993–94 for all these bodies, with the exception of the Curriculum Council for Wales, because, subject to the passagem of the Education Bill, it will be replaced by the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales on 1 April 1994.

  Reviews are normally carried out by staff temporarily transferred from other duties; I have no proposals for setting up a special section.

  Housing Survey
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the Welsh Office housing survey to be completed and published; what data he has collected in that survey in relation to numbers speaking or understanding Welsh; which company won the contract to carry out the survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh house condition survey is being undertaken in two stages. Two separate contracts have been placed after competitive tendering.

  The first stage was a social survey which incorporated questions on housing, training and education, and the Welsh language. A copy of the questionnaire used to collect data about understanding of the language will be placed in the Library of the House. The contract for this survey was won by Research and Marketing Ltd. Survey fieldwork was completed at the end of 1992 and processing of responses is continuing. Results for the various topics covered will be published separately later thisyear.

  The second stage will be a physical survey. The fieldwork will be undertaken in the next few months and results will be published by early 1994. The contract for this survey has been won by Bailey Widnell.

  Llwynmawr Site, Swansea
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date his deferment of his planning directive relating to the Llwynmawr site in Swansea expires.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In view of the strength of local feeling expressed to me by parents and their representatives in the 416
  Sketty and Ty Coch areas, I am today consulting the West Glamorgan county council about revocation of the direction to sell the land at Llwynmawr road, Swansea.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent efficiency scrutiny of health promotion in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The scrutiny team made 37 recommendations aimed at improving the value for money obtained from the resources invested in health promotion in Wales. In particular, the team considered that local responsibility and accountability for health promotion should be strengthened, but with improved links between local and national planning, and that the disciplines of commissioner/provider arrangements should be extended in the field of health promotion.

  The Department has accepted almost all of the recommendations, and has already set action in hand with a view to implementing the great majority of them by the beginning of financial year 1994–95.

  I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the efficiency scrutiny report and the Department's response.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each of the last five years, the duration, value and nature of contracts awarded by his Department to Arthur Andersen, Andersen Consulting, KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock, Touche Ross, Ernst and Young and Price Waterhouse.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information has been placed in the Library under the heading "DSS Management and Information Technology Consultancy Contracts 1988–89/ 1992–93".

  Income-related Benefits
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate for 1993–94 the number of pensioners(a) in receipt of income-related benefits, (b) entitled to receive butnot claiming income-related benefits and (c) with income £10 per week or less above the eligibility level for receipt of income-related benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the tables. The latest available figures on the take up of income-related benefits can be found in "Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take Up in 1989" published on 11 January 1993, copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to provide information regarding take-up of benefit in 1993–94 as DSS does not produce such forecasts.
  417

  Table 1: Estimated number of pensioners in receipt of income-related benefits
  1993–94

  (1) Benefit

  (2) Number of Pensioners (Millions)

  Income Support

  1·6

  Housing Benefit

  2·3

  Council Tax Benefit

  3·1

  Family Credit

  2

  Disability Working Allowance

  1

  Table 2: Numbers of pensioners, for each income-related benefit. whose weekly income taken into account when calculating benefit levels is in a £10 range starting at the level which would reduce benefit entitlement to zero

  (1) Benefit

  (2) Number of Pensioners (Millions)

  Income Support

  0·8

  Housing Benefit

  0·1

  Council Tax Benefit

  0·3

  Family Credit

  2

  Disability Working Allowance

  1

  1 Denotes information is not available.

  2 Denotes less than 5,000 people.

  Notes:

  1. Modelled at 1993–94 incomes, price and benefit levels, using data drawn from the 1988–89–90 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  2. Some people may be included in calculations for more than one benefit.

  3. Table includes pensioners whose partner is under the age of 60.

  4. All figures rounded to nearest 100,000

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate for 1993–94 the number of(a) claimants and dependants in receipt of income-related benefits, (b) people and their dependants who are eligible for, but not claiming, income-related benefits or (c) people and dependants with incomes £10 a week or less above the eligibility limits for income-related benefits.

  Mr. Burt
  The available information is in the tables. The latest available figures on the take up of income-related benefits can be found in "Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take Up in 1989" published on 11 January 1993, copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to provide information regarding take-up of benefit in 1993–94 as DSS does not produce such forecasts.

  Table 1: Estimated numbers of people and their dependants in receipt of income-related benefits 1993–94

  (1) Benefit

  (2) Number of people (Millions)

  (3) Number of dependants (Millions)

  Income Support

  5·7

  4·6

  Housing Benefit

  4·6

  3·7

  Council Tax Benefit

  5·0

  3·4

  Family Credit

  0·4

  1·2

  Disability Working Allownce

  1

  1

  418

  Table 2: Numbers of people and their dependants, for each income-related benefit, whose weekly income taken into account when calculating benefit levels is in a £10 range starting at the level which would reduce benefit entitlement to zero

  (1) Benefit

  (2) Number of people (Millions)

  (3) Number of dependants (Millions)

  Income Support

  1·6

  0·6

  Housing Benefit

  0·2

  0·2

  Council Tax Benefit

  0·4

  0·4

  Family Credit

  0·1

  0·1

  Disability Working Allowance

  1

  1

  1 Denotes information is not available.

  Notes:

  1. Modelled at 1993–94 incomes, price and benefit levels, using data drawn from the 1988–89–90 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  2. Column (3) includes partners and dependant children.

  3. Some people may be included in calculations for more than one benefit.

  4. All figures rounded to the nearest 100,000.

  21-hour Rule
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether participants on learning for work and the new community action programme who are unable to get jobs after they leave their scheme can immediately take advantage of the 21-hour rule; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  People who have completed the learning for work scheme or the community action programme have to satisfy the normal qualifying conditions before they can take advantage of the 21-hour rule concession. Those who receive an element of income support during their participation will be treated in the same way as other income support recipients. The three months in receipt of a qualifying benefit required under the 21-hour rule can therefore include time spent in either of these schemes.

  Utilities Charges
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what allowance is made when calculating how much income support/pension is to be paid for the variations in charges between privatised utilities in different parts of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Burt
  None. Income support is a national scheme.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 8 January, 21 January and 25 February, with regared to Mr. McNulty, 12 Osborne road, sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

  Mr. Scott
  The right hon. Member's letter of 8 January was passed to Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency to reply as it concerned an operational matter. I understand from Mr. Bichard that he replied on 19 January 1993. The letter of 21 January did not seek action or comment on the part of Ministers. I have no record of receipt of the letter of 25 February from the right hon. Member on this matter.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated
  419
  25 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. A. Ali, 25 Hator road, about whom the right hon. Member originally wrote on 12 October 1992.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of mobility allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the benefits agency. I understand that the right hon. Member has already received from the agency a reply both to his earlier letter and to his question. I regret the delay he has suffered.

  Letter from Ann Robinson to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 1 April 1993

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is the responsibility of Mr. Michael Bichard to answer questions on relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away at the moment I am replying on his behalf to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking when he will reply to the letter to him dated 25 February asking about Mrs. A. Ali, 25 Hector Road, about whom the Right honourable Member originally wrote on 12 October 1992.

  I am pleased to inform you that Mrs. Ali's claim to Mobility Allowance on behalf of her daughter Shabana has now been decided and due notification has been sent to her. I am sorry that there has been such a long delay in dealing with Mrs. Ali's claim and I offer my sincere apologies to her for the distress and inconvenience this must have caused. I have written to you separately and in greater detail about this matter.

  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help will be available io people on low incomes to pay their council tax bills from 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The new council tax benefit scheme will replace the community charge benefit scheme from 1 April and is expected to help more than 5 million people to pay their council tax bills, at an estimated cost of around £1·6 billion. People on low incomes will be eligible to claim benefit whether they are in or out of work, sickm or unemployed.

  Unlike community charge benefit, there will be no minimum charge to pay under the council tax benefit scheme, so that people on income support or equivalent levels of income, will receive help with up to 100 per cent. of their tax bills. Smaller rebates, based on a sliding scale, will be available to people with incomes above income support levels.

  Council tax benefit will also be available to certain people with higher incomes who would not normally qualify for income-related benefits where they share their home on a non-commercial basis with another person who is on a low income.

  In addition, people on income-related benefits will gain from the Government's decision not to re-claim the amount included in these benefits for the 20 per cent. contribution under the community charge. This measure is worth £0·75 billion at 1993–94 prices.

  This means that even after paying their local tax, around six million liable people on income-related benefits will be better off under the new council tax benefit scheme. Some people will be up to £2·80 a week better off.
  420
  The new benefit has already been publicised in local, regional and free newspapers during March, and will be followed up by further advertising during April and May at a cost of around £750,000. A comprehensive leaflet called "Council Tax Benefit—Help with the Council Tax"—CTB1—has already been produced and can be obtainedfrom post offices, social security offices and council offices, or by returning the coupon or telephoning free the number shown in the press advertisement. The leaflet is also available in 12 other languages.

  A detailed information pack, setting out the principles of the new scheme, has been sent to each Member of Parliament, and will be made available to other interested groups.

  Source: Figures based on 1988–89–90 Family Expenditure Surveys uprated to 1993–94 prices and benefit levels and estimated council tax levels.

  Disability (Grants) Bill
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he intends to fund the independent living (extension) fund, the independent living (1993) fund and motability while the Disability (Grants) Bill is passing through the legislative process; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Disability (Grants) Bill currently before Parliament will allow the Secretary of State to make grants to certain named organisations that help disabled people lead a more independent life in the community. These organisations are the independent living (extension) fund, the independent living (1993) fund, and motability.

  I am pleased to be able to announce the launch today of these new funds for independent living. The extension fund will continue to pay cash to everyone who is currently receiving money from the ILF, while the 1993 fund, in conjunction with local authorities will begin to accept new applications.

  Parliamentary approval of expenditure on these new services will be sought in the 1993–94 main estimate for the housing benefit administration and council tax benefit administration, payments into the social fund in respect of discretionary expenditure, and other grants vote—class XIII vote 3. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at
  £42,400,000 will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Contrary to Government accounting conventions, expenditure on these new services was included in the 1993–94 main estimate for class XIII, vote 3 in advance of the necessary legislation achieving Second Reading. The provision in question, totalling £120,277,000 will not be used for this or any other purpose until the enabling legislation has come into force.

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the arrangements for paying the new Treasury grant to the national insurance fund.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Social Security Act 1993, which received Royal Assent in January 1993, gave powers for the payment of a Treasury grant to the national insurance fund to strengthen the fund's balance. Parliamentary approval for this new expenditure will be sought in the 1993–94 main estimate for the Department of Social
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  Security's housing benefit, council tax benefit, payments into the national insurance fund and payments into the social fund in respect of regulated expenditure vote—class XIII, vote 2—presented to the House on 9 March. Pending that approval, expenditure estimated at £1·5 billion will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Fuel Costs
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to protect pensioners and those on low incomes from the effects of the imposition of value added tax upon domestic fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 March, at column 511.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Our next steps agencies are examining the scope for private finance in a number of areas, including joint ventures in information technology projects, setting up and running staff child care facilities, property development and redeveloping existing sites, and leasing computer hardware.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are estimated to have benefited from increases in the pensioner premium in income support since the introduction of the scheme.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available data1 indicated that there were 1,369,000 income support recipients aged over 60 receiving one of the pensioner premiums. There have been increases in some or all of the pensioner premiums, over and above the normal annual upratings, in October 1989, April 1991, April 1992 and October 1992.

  Note:

  1 Source: May 1991 Annual Statistical Enquiry.

  Percentage Disablement Award
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the level of percentage disablement award for the claims prior to 1992 which went to the medical appeal tribunal in the northern region.

  Mr. Scott
  Social security administration is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from David Riggs to Mr. Bill Etherington, dated 31 March 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is the responsibility of Michael Bichard to answer questions about relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away at the moment I am replying on his behalf to your recent
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  Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking what was the level of disablement award for the claims prior to 1992 which went to the Medical Appeal Tribunal in the Northern Region.

  There may be some misunderstanding as to the way the appeals system operates. A customer can appeal against the decision of the adjudicating authorities irrespective of the level of the percentage disablement award. However, if you are relating your question to a specific subject I would be grateful if you would write to me with further details as to the information you require and I will be pleased to answer you with such information as is available.

  I am sorry that I am unable to be of more assistance on this occasion. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Mucous Membrane Disease
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims for mucous membrane disease were made to his Department in the northern region in the two years prior to the take-up campaign of April 1992; and how many claims have been made since April 1992;

  (2) what general guidance his Department has issued since 1992 to (a) regional chief medical officers, (b) adjudicating medical authorities and (c) medical appeal tribunals, as to what is considered the appropriate loss of faculty in considering cases of mucous membrane disease.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of industrial injuries disablement benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from David Riggs to Mr. Bill Etherington, dated 31 March 1993:

  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is the responsibility of Michael Bichard to answer questions about relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away at the moment I am replying on his behalf to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (i) how many claims for mucous membrane disease were made to his Department in the Northern Region in the two years prior to the take up campaign of April 1992; and how many claims have been made since April 1992 (ii) what general guidance his Department has issued since 1992 to (a) regional chief medical officers, (b) adjudicating medical authorities and (c) medical appeal tribunals, as to what is considered the appropriate loss of faculty in cases of mucous membrane disease.

  Figures relating to the number of claims to mucous membrane disease(D4) prior to April 1992 are not available, as figures relating to individual prescribed diseases are not routinely kept, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, as a result of a special exercise undertaken by the Department following the take up campaign I am able to tell you that from June 1992 until the end of February this year 4,146 claims had been received for Prescribed Disease D4 in the Tyne Tees Area.

  In answer to your second question; the Department issues "Notes on the Diagnosis of Prescribed Diseases", to the senior medical officers who organize the training of Adjudicating Medical Authorities. Copies of this guidance have been placed in the Library. These adjudicating authorities must make up their own minds on the evidence of particular cases. Medical Appeal Tribunals (MATs) operate independently of the Department as part of the Independent Tribunal Service and the Secretary of State does not issue guidance on such matters to MATs.

  I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the implications of his policy of curtailing payment of residential allowance to claimants in care homes when the claimant is away from the care home for longer than six days.
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  Mr. Burt
  We have recently received a number of representations from hon. Members and others on this issue and we are giving careful consideration to all the implications. We shall make an announcement shortly.

  EXCLUSIONS FROM SCHOOLS: REPLIES TO DOCUMENT
  EXCLUSIONS FROM SCHOOLS: REPLIES TO DOCUMENT
  PRISONS: NEW AND ADDITIONAL PLACES
  PRISONS: NEW AND ADDITIONAL PLACES
  PRISON SERVICE: FUTURE
  PRISON SERVICE: FUTURE
  EC TREATIES: INTERPRETATION
  EC TREATIES: INTERPRETATION
  LIBERIA
  LIBERIA